Nursing student and needle stick injuries in nepal

Objectives: This study is done to assess the knowledge and practice among nursing students on needle stick injury (NSI). Methods: A 13 item standard questionnaire was prepared and administered to 116 nursing students of two nursing college of Kathmandu and one nursing college of butwal. These students had a compulsory posting in various hospitals where they come in direct contact with patients. Results: Results showed that all students were aware of the facts that human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) and Hepatitis B infection is transmitted through needle stick injury. About 53.5% students had history of needle stick injury and only 46.8% had reported the incident to concerned authority. Around 62.1% of the participants were in believed that needle should be recapped after use and 48.3% of the students were aware of universal guidelines. 36 participants (31.03%) of students were vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Conclusion: The study had showed that knowledge regarding needle stick injury was inadequate among nursing students. The concerned nursing college, hospital and government should formulated a appropriate and time based study material for the nursing student regarding needle stick injury and universal precaution guidelines, so as to make aware them about the potential hazards of NSI. They should be taught about needle stick injury and the way to avoid such injury at the beginning of their study and more ever every nursing student should be fully immunized.