Nursing interventions in the prevention of needlestick and sharps injuries: the case of a university hospital in Turkey

Abstract

This study aimed to create an occupational safety program by reducing the rates of needlestick and sharps injuries in nurses. The universe of this experimental study was made up of nurses working in a university hospital and they were involved in a preliminary study before administering the sampling method. The data were collected through “Needlestick and Sharp Injuries Form” and “Clinical Observation and Evaluation Form”. As a result of this study, while the rate of needlestick and sharp injuries in nurses before the intervention was 31.2 percent, it was found to be 24.3 percent in the 9th month monitoring following the intervention, which yielded a significant difference. Needlestick and sharp injuries continued to occur. These results should be considered in the design of occupational safety programs to reduce the NSIs at the Hospital Center. It is also necessary to establish a monitoring system of needlestick and sharp injuries at a hospital level and a reporting system at the national level in Turkey.