Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Sue Bell

Abstract

Blood-borne pathogens (BBPs) are an occupational risk confronted by many health care workers. Nurses are routinely exposed to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus. A literature review, which included retrieval of peer-reviewed quantitative articles, systematic reviews, and mixed-methods studies published between 2014 and 2021 supported the need for nurses to be knowledgeable about prevention of BBP exposures and the processes to follow after an incident. The project aimed to educate staff nurses on the best practices for preventing the risk for and transmission of BBPs. A pretest–education–posttest format was used to assess knowledge before and after the presentation of an education session. Benner’s stages of skills acquisition theory in nursing guided the project. Sixteen nurses completed both the pretest and posttest questionnaires and attended the education session. Simple descriptive statistics (counts and percentages) were used to report the change in nurses’ knowledge. Fourteen of 16 nurse participants answered each of the 10 pretest questions correctly. After the education, all 16 nurse participants answered all 10 questions correctly. Based on the findings, nurses know what to do regarding prevention of BBP transmission and reporting of BBP exposures. Future projects might evaluate contributing factors other than knowledge deficits that increase BBP exposure risks among nurses. Particular factors to explore are how distractions and nurses’ workloads contribute to the risk of BBP infections. Ensuring knowledge and compliance of staff nurses with organizational processes through education promotes social change by reducing the economic and psychological effects associated with BBP exposures.

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