Evaluation of Nurses' Needlestick and Sharps Injury Status, Reporting Frequency and Post-Injury Practices

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the causes and frequency of needlestick and sharp injuries among nurses and to examine their knowledge and practices following these injuries. Methods: The population of the study consisted of 1,550 nurses working at a state and a university hospital located in a city center. The sample included 478 nurses, aged between 18 and 60, who were actively working and volunteered to participate in the study between September 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019. A survey assessing sociodemographic characteristics, the frequency of needlestick and sharp injuries, and post-injury practices was administered to the voluntarily participating nurses. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 25 software program. Results: It was determined that 45.6% of the nurses experienced sharps ınjury 2-5 times in their working life, and 67.8% of them had sharps injury in the last year. It was determined that 71.3% of these injuries were caused by injector needles, and 50.8% of them were caused by fast movement. It was determined that 58.8% of the nurses washed the injured area with soap and water as an intervention after a sharp object injury. Conclusion: A high rate of needlestick and sharp injuries was found among nurses, and it was determined that the reporting rates of these injuries were low.