Investigating the relationship between clinical competence and the incidence of needle-stick injuries (NSIs) and their contributing factors in nurses: a descriptive cross-sectional study in Southern Iran.

Background: Needle-stick injuries (NSIs) pose a substantial occupational hazard, exposing healthcare professionals to potentially infectious diseases. Nurses' clinical competence plays a crucial role in preventing and mitigating the incidence of NSIs. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical competence and the incidence of NSIs, as well as the factors contributing to these injuries, among nurses in Fars Province, southern Iran, from March 2023 to May 2023.