Date of this Version

12-8-2022

Document Type

DNP Project

Rights

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Abstract

Abstract

Background: Needlestick injuries are a well-known hazard in the workplace, especially in healthcare settings. Despite knowledge of the potential consequences after sustaining a needlestick injury, numerous incidents remain unreported by healthcare workers.

Aim: This quality improvement project examined whether an interactive occupational safety course regarding needlestick injury prevention and incident reporting in the workplace would positively influence the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of emergency department registered nurses regarding needlestick injury prevention and incident reporting.

Design: Pre and post-test survey design.

Sample and Setting: Five registered nurses staffed in the emergency department of a public 716-bed, pediatric and adult hospital.

Methods: Participants completed a pre and post-test questionnaire regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards needlestick injury prevention and incident reporting. The post-test was administered one week after receiving an occupational safety course.

Results: The intervention was not statistically significant regarding the pre and post-test change scores on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding needlestick injury prevention and incident reporting.

Implications: With a larger sample size in a next PDSA cycle, the project has the potential to gather positive data that can change nursing practice and enforce the importance of continuous education. Organizational policies can be reviewed and modified based on the interventions and data from this project to increase and improve workplace safety.

Keywords: needlestick injury, prevention, incident reporting, emergency-department, registered nurses, knowledge, attitudes, behaviors

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