Page 187 - Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management, 5th Edition

CikguOnline
2208_Ch12_169-196.qxd 11/6/09 6:01 PM Page 174
174 unit 3 | Professional Issues CikguOnline
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention NIOSH
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The NIOSH is part of the CDC and is the feder-
(CDC) is the lead federal agency for protecting the al agency responsible for conducting research and
health and safety of citizens both at home and making recommendations for the prevention of
abroad. The CDC partners with other agencies work-related disease and injury. Occupational
throughout the nation to investigate health prob- hazards for health-care workers continue to be
lems, conduct research, implement prevention enormous health and economic problems.
strategies, and promote safe and healthy environ- According to statistics from the NIOSH, more
ments. The CDC publishes continuous updates of than 6.1 million illnesses and injuries occur in the
recommendations for prevention of HIV transmis- workplace yearly, with more than 2.9 million lost
sion in the workplace and universal precautions workdays attributed to occupational illnesses and
related to blood-borne pathogens; it also publishes injuries (cdc.gov/niosh/about).
the most recent information on other infectious Box 12-1 lists the most important federal laws
diseases in the workplace, such as tuberculosis and enacted to protect individuals in the workplace.
hepatitis. Currently, the CDC is targeting public
health emergency preparedness and response relat- ANA
ed to biological and chemical agents and threats When looking at agencies that are instrumental in
(cdc.gov/). Information can be obtained by con- dealing with workplace safety, the ANA must be
sulting the Mortality and Morbidity Weekly included. The ANA is discussed more completely
Report (MMWR) in the library, via the Internet in Chapters 10 and 15.The ANA’s history embod-
(cdc.gov/health/diseases), or through the toll-free ies advocacy for the nurse.
phone number (800-311-3435). Interested health- In 1999 the Commission on Workplace
care workers can also be placed on the CDC’s Advocacy was established as part of the ANA.The
mailing list to receive any free publications. Commission consists of nine members, appointed

box 12-1
Federal Laws Enacted to Protect the Worker in the Workplace
• Equal Pay Act of 1963: Employers must provide equal pay for equal work, regardless of sex.
• Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964: Employees may not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex,
or national origin.
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967: Private and public employers may not discriminate against persons
40 years of age or older except when a certain age group is a bona fide occupational qualification.
• Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1968: Pregnant women cannot be discriminated against in employment benefits if they
are able to perform job responsibilities.
• Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970: Job applicants and employees have the right to know of the existence and content of
any credit files maintained on them.
• Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973: An employer receiving financial assistance from the federal government may not
discriminate against individuals with disabilities and must develop affirmative action plans to hire and promote individuals
with disabilities.
• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act—Buckley Amendment of 1974: Educational institutions may not supply
information about students without their consent.
• Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986: Employers must screen employees for the right to work in the United
States without discriminating on the basis of national origin.
• Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990: Persons with physical or mental disabilities or who are chronically ill cannot be
discriminated against in the workplace. Employers must make “reasonable accommodations”to meet the needs of the
disabled employee. These include such provisions as installing foot or hand controls; readjusting light switches, telephones,
desks, tables, and computer equipment; providing access ramps and elevators; offering flexible work hours; and providing
readers for blind employees.
• Family Medical Leave Act of 1993: Employers with 50 or more employees must provide up to 13 weeks of unpaid leave for
family medical emergencies, childbirth, or adoption.
• Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2001: This act directed the OSHA to revise the blood-borne pathogens stan-
dard to establish in greater detail requirements that employers identify and make use of effective and safer medical devices.
Adapted from Strader, M., & Decker, P. (1995). Role Transition to Patient Care Management. Norwalk, Conn.: Appleton and
Lange; osha.gov/needlesticks/needlefact