ABSTRACT

LIVED EXPERIENCES OF STUDENT NURSES WITH NEEDLE PRICK FEAR AND ITS EFFECT TO THEIR CLINICAL PRACTICE Ricafort, Rochelle Cheska P. Castel°, April joy C. ''College of Health Sciences University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi, Rawis Legazpi City, Philippines, 4500

Needle-stick and other percutaneous injuries have the greatest risk of occupational transmission of serious blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus to health-care workers (BOS Medical, 2016). This study aims to determine the lived experiences of the student nurses with needle prick fear and its effects to their clinical practice. Using snow ball sampling the researchers interviewed the participants with needle prick fear. A face-to-face and in depth interview was done during the study. Participants of the study are six fourth year student nurses, three of them are male and three are female who has experienced needle prick. In this study the results showed that having needle prick fear affects the efficiency of a student nurse in the clinical area. Student nurses with needle prick fear tend to be less efficient in their hospital duties because of the occupational hazards. The needle prick fear affected the student nurses emotionally and physically that caused them to be more cautious in the clinical area because they have the knowledge that there is a high risk of getting blood borne diseases through needle stick injuries. Having needle prick fear affects their performance as a student nurses because it made them more nervous that the incident may happen again. Based on the study conducted by the researchers, anxiety is the number one psychological factor that affects the student nurses in being efficient in their clinical practice. This research will provide awareness for the future student nurses of dealing with needle prick fear in the clinical setting.