Psychological impact of sharps injury
Abstract:
Aims: The aims of this study were to explore the experience and psychological impact of sustaining a sharps injury within a nursing student population in the UK. Design: A qualitative approach was taken, using two methods to gather data, namely a Twitter chat and interviews.
Methods: A Twitter chat was orchestrated to investigate the experiences of sharps injury with nursing students and registered nurses nationwide (n=71). Interviews were conducted with nursing students from a university in the UK who had sustained a sharps injury (n=12) to discover their experiences and the impact of the injury. Findings were then synthesised and examined.
Results: Some nursing students reported psychological impacts after sustaining the sharps injury, which affected both their professional and personal life. The qualitative findings were synthesised into eight themes.
Conclusion: Sharps injuries can have many psychological impacts on the individual nursing student and necessary support should be available.
Reference:
Hambridge K, Endacott R, Nichols A. The experience and psychological impact of a sharps injury on a nursing student population in the UK. Br J Nurs. 2021 Aug 12;30(15):910-918. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2021.30.15.910. PMID: 34379471.