The Knowledge Levels About Medical Waste Management of Nursing Students

Objective: This study was planned as a descriptive study in order to determine the knowledge level of nursing students about the classification and management of medical wastes in hospital. Methods: The population of the study consisted of 104 students studying in the 2015-2016 academic year in the Department of the Nursing of Faculty of Health Sciences, in Istanbul. The sample included 85 students who agreed to participate in the research. The data were collected using Student Information Form and Classification and Management of Medical Waste Information Evaluation Form. The data obtained were analyzed on the computer using appropriate statistical methods. Results: It was determined that the average age of the students was 21.90 ± 0.15, 92.9% of them were girls, and 47.1% of them had previously been informed about medical waste and management. 54.1% of them hazardous waste symbol/icon, 89.4% of them answered the color of the medical waste bag correctly. 56.5% of the nursing students have domestic wastes, 54.1% of non-contaminated serum and medicine bottles into a blue garbage bag, 89.4% of the infected patients in contact with the red waste of the garbage bag that he knew correctly. 55.3% of the injectors in contact with the patient should be thrown into the box without closing the needle tip, 57.6% of these boxes should not be filled more than 3/4 said correctly. Students who are 20 years of age and over were found to have significantly higher levels of uncleaned bags of serum and medication bottles, knowledge of hazardous waste symbol, and significantly higher than those under 20 (p<0.01). Conclusion: It was observed that nursing students need knowledge about the classification and management of medical wastes. In addition, it was determined that individual characteristics (age, class, medical waste management training) affect the status of knowing and managing medical wastes. In order to develop knowledge attitudes and behavior, it may be suggested to give more of these issues in nursing curricula