Occupational Exposure Incidents Among Nursing Students: Knowledge, Experience, and Reporting Practices-A...

Background: Nursing students are at high risk of exposure to blood and body fluids due to limited clinical experience. Ensuring adequate knowledge and proper post-exposure protocols is vital for improving safety and post-exposure management. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, previous exposure experience, and reporting practices regarding occupational exposure incidents among nursing students at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Split, Croatia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 274 nursing students using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistical methods were applied, along with univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. Results: Exposure incidents were experienced by 36.3% of students, with needlestick injuries being the most common (80.1%). In terms of reporting practices, fewer than half (40.8%) of those affected officially reported the incident. While students demonstrated adequate overall performance on the knowledge assessment (median score 12, IQR: 11-14), significant gaps were identified in hepatitis B and C protocols and immediate wound care. Multivariate analysis identified full-time student status (β = 1.24; p = 0.010) and first-year students (β = 0.82; p = 0.036) as factors significantly associated with higher knowledge scores. Conclusions: Although nursing students possess solid fundamental knowledge of exposure-related risks, a significant gap remains in their practical application and incident reporting. The high incidence of needlestick injuries (80.1%) underscores the importance of moving beyond theory toward enhanced clinical supervision. To address these gaps, nursing education should prioritize targeted practical training and cultivate a robust safety culture that encourages incident reporting.