The frequency and causes of occupational injuries among nursing students in Turkey.

The aim of this study is to determine the number and causes of occupational incidents that occurred in nursing students. This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study performed at a military nursing school in Turkey in June 2009 with 218 nursing students as subjects. A data collection form for identifying the characteristics of the students and their exposure to incidents was used. The frequency of incidents increased with the increase in the number of years enrolled in the nursing program. It was determined that needlesticks (47.3%) and broken ampules during medication preparation (37.8%) were the 2 most common reasons for injuries. This study showed that although nursing students had high percentage of penetrating injuries, the overall incidence of injury was low. For prevention of occupational incidents, information about occupational incidents, risks, and prevention methods must be included in the nursing curriculum.