A Study to Assess the Knowledge Level of Staff Nurses regarding Post Exposure Prophylaxis of Needle Stick Injury at Era Hospital, Lucknow

A needle stick injury is defined as a penetrating wound with an instrument that is potentially contaminated with the body fluid of another person. In health care sectors, although nurses and doctors are more exposed to needle stick injury, many health care workers did not have sufficient level of knowledge to protect themselves from needle stick injury and they did not take the necessary precautions. Objectives: To assess the knowledge level of staff nurses regarding post exposure prophylaxis of needle stick injury, and find out the association on post exposure prophylaxis with the selected demographic variable. Methodology: This study was conducted using quantitative approach at Era Hospital, Lucknow. Descriptive research design has been adopted. The total sample size was 60. Non-Probability Convenient sampling was used. Data collection was done using structured questionnaire to assess knowledge level of staff nurse regarding post exposure prophylaxis of needle stick injury. Result- This study showed that overall knowledge level of staff nurses regarding post exposure prophylaxis of needle stick injury, shows 6 staff nurses (10 %) had adequate knowledge, 20 staff nurses (33.30 %) had inadequate knowledge and 34 staff nurses (56.70 %) of the staff nurses had moderate knowledge. Interpretation and Conclusion - The study revealed that on knowledge level of staff nurses regarding post exposure prophylaxis of needle stick injury is effective. The nurses have lack of knowledge about post exposure prophylaxis of needle stick injury. In future, various measures should be taken to improve nurse’s knowledge level regarding post exposure prophylaxis of needle stick injury.