Nursing Students' Exposure to NeedleStick and Sharp Injuries, Faculty's Stress and Necessity of Informed Consent in Fundamental Nursing Practice / 기본간호학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify occurrence of needle stick and sharp injuries(NSI) among students, level of faculty stress, and necessity of informed consent when students practice injection skills in fundamentals of nursing practice (FNP). METHODS: Data were collected using self-reporting questionnaires and 74 faculty members who teach FNP responded it. Questionnaires included general characteristics, experiences of NSI, stress level, and informed consent. Data were analyzed using frequency, percent and paired t-test. RESULTS: Of 74 faculty members, 51.4% experienced NSI 3~4 times or more during their FNP classes. Major procedures causing NSI during FNP were ‘ breaking the neck of ampules’, ‘ disposing of used items’, and ‘ inserting needles’. The stress level of faculty was higher and more than doubled when training with human beings compared to manikins. Most faculties (86.5%) agreed to the necessity of informed consent so that the safety of faculty and students could be protected and to provide enough information even though only 10.8% of faculty in this study got informed consent. CONCLUSION: Because there is high risk in every procedure of NSI, faculty has a high level of stress during injection practice in FNS. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a standard NSI precaution program for junior nursing students and discuss informed consent.