KNOWLEDGE OF PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES OF NEEDLE STICK INJURIES AMONG NURSING STUDENTS IN MADONNA UNIVERSITY ELELE CAMPUS, RIVERS STATE

The focus of this study is to assess the knowledge of needle stick injuries and precautionary measures among nursing students at Madonna University, Elele Rivers State. Three specific objectives and research questions were formulated to guide the study; in terms of the level of knowledge on needle stick injuries, level of knowledge of nursing students on associated risk factors and causes of needle stick injuries, and the types of precautionary measures in place against needle stick injuries for nursing students in Madonna University .The target population for this study was comprised of nursing students in their third to fifth year of study in Madonna University in Rivers State. The researcher made use of a descriptive survey design using a self-designed questionnaire for data collection. The data was descriptively summarized with the use of frequency, percentages and tables. The findings of the study revealed that knowledge of needlestick injuries and precautionary measures among nursing students in Madonna University was good on the average. Also, findings showed the measures against needlesticks injuries for nursing students to include following appropriate established infection control measures (69.3%), following appropriate procedure in handling and disposing of sharp instruments (82.4%), washing hands and other exposed skin surface (78.9%), and routinely using use barriers such as gloves, eye protective and gowns (84.2%).The study recommended that clinical instructors should collaborate with nurse and hospital administrators to encourage and ensure display of guidelines of universal precaution and supply injection safety material/resources. Keywords: knowledge, needle stick injuries, risk factors, precautionary measures,nursing students