THE PERCEIVED EFFECT OF A WORKPLACE EDUCATION PROGRAM ON REDUCING NEEDLESTICK INJURIES AMONG SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR YEAR, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE NURSING STUDENTS ATTENDING INCARNATE WORD COLLEGE, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (IMMUNE DEFICIENCY).
Contributors: Texas A & M University.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 132
Subjects: Education, Adult and Continuing.; Health Sciences, Education.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Industrial.; Health Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety.
Description: Needlestick injuries continue to occur at an alarming rate among nursing students and hospital personnel across the United States. The first exposure to these injuries occurs when the individuals are in school learning the needle-handling skills and procedures. Nursing students, faculty, and nursing personnel are the largest group of hospital employees who frequently handle instruments or supplies contaminated with blood and are the most at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Needlestick and sharps injuries present a higher risk for occupational exposure to HIV. The risk of hepatitis B virus infection is approximately 30% for unvaccinated healthcare workers and higher for nursing students and nursing personnel working in hospitals. Risk of HIV infection from a single needlestick injury was.4% in 1989, had risen to 1% by 1990, and continues to rise. Nursing students and practicing nurses are also expensive resources for the nursing schools and hospitals. The infections and diseases resulting from even a single needlestick injury range from serious to deadly.

Most needlestick injuries have been found to be preventable, but they continue to occur even if the nursing school or hospital invests time, money, and personnel in environmental changes and student or staff education.

This evaluation study was done to determine the perceived effects of an adult self-directed education program completed in an overlapping manner while the Sophomore and Junior Baccalaureate nursing students attended regular classes and clinical labs. Their perceptions of the effect of the knowledge, skill, and problem-solving portions as well as their attitude were assessed using the Ball State University Nursing' Bloodborne Pathogen and Universal Precautions test.

The results of this study identified specific adult education approaches that are perceived by the students to have affected their achieving a sustained decrease in needlestick injuries. The results at last allow nursing schools and hospitals to concentrate their prevention efforts. They will save financial resources and decrease the number of nursing students and hospital personnel previously lost to their program or hospital staff due to diseases contracted after experiencing a needlestick injury.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-06, Section: A, page: 2319.

Thesis (PH.D.)--TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, 1996.

School code: 0803.