The frequency of occupational accidents among the nurses working in a training hospital in Ankara

This is a cross sectional study designed to define factors which affect the frequency, distribution, types and notification of occupational accidents in the nurses working in Gulhane Military Medical Academy Training Hospital.In this study, 504 of 570 nurses working in the training hospital were reached. All of these nurses were applied a questionnaire related with occupational accidents. An observational study was made for occupational accidents, which they experienced between January and March 2009, were performed. The accidents were detected either by using a notification form or by periodical observations during the period. Arithmetic mean and frequency analyses were used for analyzing the data and chi-square test was applied for comparison of the groups. In the analysis ? =0,005 value was chosen as error margins (Confidence Intervals).According to results of the study; 43.1 % of the nurses declared they experienced an occupational accident in the last year, 53 % declared individual protective equipment was partially supplied, and 73.6 % declared their occupation affected their physical health negatively. The 50 % of the participants stated only a moderate level of safety precautions was provided due to their occupational risks. In a three-month period, frequency rate of occupational accidents was 8.1 %, and density rate was 24/1000 per 100 hours. Sharp injury accident was the first with 70.7 %. The most frequent exposure type was the needle-stick injury of hand fingers. Carelessness and hastiness were declared as the major causes of injuries. 46.3 % of the nurses reported their occupational accident. Regarding the accident as unimportant was the main reason for ignoring declaration. No attempt for medical advice was made for thirty (73.1 %) accidents. The risk for occupational accidents was increased with the overtime working (p=0.039). The nurses experiencing occupational accidents realize the preventive measures for occupational risks to be at moderate level (p=0.011).In conclusion, the educational level of the nurses for occupational health and safety are not adequate. Occupational health and safety should be under the supervision of a board, which must include must include experts.Key Words: Nursing, occupational accident, health care worker, occupational health and safety.