Evaluation of ergonomic knowledge by professional nursing practice in work

Introduction
The nursing work is characterized by a series of discrete tasks and activities, involves multiple levels of responsibility and complexity of the relationship and the second type of occupation and requires the expenditure of physical forces, mechanical and psychological. Certain postures and movements made by a worker repeatedly can affect your muscles and your constitution-articular bone, especially the spine and limbs, resulting in the short term, pain that extends beyond the working hours and can result in permanent injuries and deformities.

Methods
It was a quantitative study, exploratory, held in February and March 2009, aiming to assess the knowledge of ergonomics by nurses in their working practice in municipal and state hospitals in Teresina - Piaui.

Results
The study population consisted of 62 nurses chosen at random, characterized according to the variables: age, sex, position in the nursing staff, seniority, hours of service, area of expertise, knowledge of body mechanics and ergonomic risks presented in your workday. There was a predominance of female professionals (91.94%). It was observed that there are two shifts between 93.55% of the professionals. 93.55% of nurses said they had knowledge about ergonomic risk in their occupational activities. 69.35% said they perform repetitive movements with the upper and 67.74% reported maintaining postures during the workday. The entire nursing staff reported existence of pain in the last 12 months of work activity.

Discussion
Stands out as a highly effective element of the domain knowledge of occupational risk factors, causes of diseases of the work and control measures, especially as it relates to nursing.