Long working hours increase the risk of sharp and needlestick injury in nurses: the need for new policy implication.

Aim: This paper reports a study to determine the sharp and needlestick injury incidence in nurses working at a university hospital and the contributing factors.

Background: Although it is generally felt that working in the healthcare sector is clean and without risk, healthcare staff and especially physicians and nurses who generally work very long hours are actually exposed to various occupational risks. Sharps and needlestick injuries are important problems for healthcare workers as they increase the risk of spread of infection.