Fear of health risks

:uhoh21: This is a helpful forum. I hate to sound like a bundle of fears, but I think this discussion has helped me to address realistically some of the big risks and rewards that come with this field. Here's my question: how do nurses live and work with the health and safety risks they encounter on the job? I'm thinking of needle sticks, risks of infection, and so forth. I remember reading a newspaper article in my city about health care workers and Hepatitus C. A nurse had contracted the disease through needle stick while providing home care. And I know that's not the only concern. With the workloads being as demanding as they are today under managed care, are nurses able to exercise caution as much as would be considered safe? Thanks in advance for your perspectives.