Occupational Hazards and Nursing Commitment of Standard Precautions at the Emergency Department of Northern West Bank Hospitals Palestine رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational hazards are a global health concern, with biological factors being a major cause. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge and commitment in applying standard precautions and factors that may influence commitment to standard precautions. Additionally, to Investigate the prevalence of and potential factors contributing to exposure to biological occupational hazards among emergency nurses in the northern West Bank. Method: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design with stratified random sampling, involving 133 emergency nurses from government and private hospitals in the Northern West Bank . Results: 39% of nurses had good knowledge of standard precautions, while 73% had low commitment. Significant differences were only found in the level of commitment to standard precautions and gender. The top three factors influence nurses' commitment to Standard precautions were the difficulty in feeling veins, the negative impact of personal protective equipment and staffing shortages. Furthermore,50% of nurses contracted the coronavirus. In the year before the study, 81% of participants were exposed to body fluids and 96% experienced needle stick injuries. The top three contributing factors were workload ,nurse shortages and fatigue. Conclusion: The findings revealed that the nurses at the emergency department had good knowledge but substandard commitment to standard precautions. Additionally, a high proportion of nurses in the emergency department were exposed to biological occupational hazards. vi Recommendations: Continuous education should focus on practical aspects and reinforce commitment with surveillance, sanctions, and rewards. Emphasize the importance of personal protective equipment for safety and increase staffing to reduce workloads. Also, conduct more observational studies on biological hazards and practice of standard precautions.