Nursing Students’ Occupational Health and Safety Problems in Surgical Clinical Practice

Abstract

Student nurses are exposed to hazards in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS) problems in Turkey. Researching these problems in the clinical setting, improving the health and safety of student nurses is an issue that needs to be investigated. The aim of this study is to present OHS-related impressions and OHS experiences of nursing students in relation to the risk assessment process and from an educational perspective. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 students at a nursing school. The study indicated that almost all of the students’ OHS knowledge and awareness level were low, were exposed to contact with blood and body fluids as most dangerous situations, have difficulties in the provision of personnel protective equipment (PPE), were subjected to verbal assault, and experienced anxiety and irritability. They encountered dangerous situations applying treatment in the clinic, preparing drugs, following vital signs, giving general care, and during the intervention in the emergency room, and experienced back pain, headache, increased tendency to sleep, fatigue, and forearm, wrist, hand, and finger injuries. Because of contact with hand antiseptic/latex, skin irritation, and burning eyes, nose, and throat, allergy symptoms were detected. Carelessness and intensive work tempo were the most common causes of workplace accidents. The clinical practice areas are limited in terms of OHS; students are exposed to physical, psychological, and chemical risks with respect to OHS, and they are most psychologically affected by experiencing anxiety and irritability, as well as physiologically, and have symptoms similar to burnout syndrome; they are at risk of getting burnout syndrome.

Exposure to Occupational Health Hazards Among Nursing and Midwifery Students During Clinical Practice

“…This finding similar to a study done at Addis Ababa (60.9%) 9 and Turkey (61.4%). 23 This similarity may be due to similar patient load in the sites and the students’ frequent patient nursing care activity involvements. But, it is lower than a study done in Nigeria (88.5%) 13 and it is higher than the study done in Turkey (2.84%) 24 and Korea (39.1%).…”

Relationship between nursing students' exposure to colleague violence and stress levels in nursing education

“…In a study investigating the clinical violence experienced by students in Hong Kong, 30.6% were found to have been exposed to verbal violence during clinical practice (Cheung et al, 2019). In a study examining the experiences of nursing students in Turkey with regard to occupational health and safety, 40.7% stated that they had been exposed to verbal / physical violence by nurses / doctors (Eyi & Eyi, 2020).…”

Violencia en Enfermería De Pregrado: Experiencias E Implicaciones en La Perspectiva Del Estudiante

“…Além disso, diversos acadêmicos relataram o desejo de desistir do componente curricular e/ou do curso em função do constrangimento e das situações de violência vivenciadas. Resultados de outros estudos indicam que a tendência de abandonar a graduação não é uma realidade exclusiva do contexto pesquisado, pois em outras regiões do Brasil e no exterior os estudantes em situação de opressão apresentam maior nível de absenteísmo, maior probabilidade de desenvolver Síndrome de Burnout, maior nível de estresse e de ansiedade e, consequentemente, acabam se afastando de um componente curricular específico ou do curso como um todo (15,21,24,25) .…”