What do Nursing Students have to say about Occupational Health and Safety as University Undergraduates?

Nursing is a high risk profession in terms of occupational health and safety (OHS) as is evident in the extent of illness and injury sustained by nursing practitioners worldwide. The purpose of this pilot study was to more fully understand nursing students’ perspectives about clinical and non-clinical OHS. The study was undertaken at an Australian university in 2014. It was descriptive exploratory in nature. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken. Two focus groups were conducted, using semi-structured interview questions, one with first year students and one with third year students. There were some similar themes between the literature reviewed and focus group findings. The principal theme for non-clinical OHS issues was "Pedestrian Concerns". Spanning life both on and off campus, this theme encompassed issues of self-care including stressors related to work-life balance and the transition from school (or pre-university) to university student. Students were able to identify hazards when sharing their concerns and provide suggestions for their management. This information can be used by staff to enhance all students’ university experience.