Internship nursing students’ performance regarding needle stick injuries: A cross-sectional study

Background: Needle stick injuries (NSIs) represent a major occupational hazard for nursing students, particularly during internship training when clinical exposure is intensive. Such injuries increase the risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens and reflect gaps in knowledge, skills, and adherence to safety precautions.Aim: This study aimed to assess internship nursing students’ performance regarding needle stick injuries, including knowledge, practices, exposure frequency, and reporting behaviors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among internship nursing students at selected healthcare institutions. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of NSIs, preventive practices, exposure history, and reporting behaviors. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.Results: A total of 150 internship nursing students participated in the study. Approximately 38% reported experiencing at least one needle stick injury during their internship period. Although 72% demonstrated satisfactory knowledge regarding NSI prevention, only 54% consistently adhered to safe practices. Underreporting of NSIs was common, with fear of blame and lack of awareness of reporting procedures cited as major reasons.Conclusion: Despite acceptable knowledge levels, internship nursing students demonstrated suboptimal practices and high exposure to needle stick injuries. Educational interventions, continuous supervision, and clear reporting systems are essential to reduce NSI incidence and improve clinical safety.