Researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health assessed the risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens -- HIV, hepatitis B and C -- among 1,100 non-hospital based registered nurses.

"These rates of exposure are surprising since they are similar to rates reported for hospital-based nurses, even though hospitalized patients generally have more procedures, including more invasive procedures -- than are typically performed in community healthcare settings," Robyn Gershon, of the Mailman School of Public Health, said in a statement.

The study, published in the journal Industrial Health, also found that 70 percent of the exposed nurses were never seen by a healthcare provider for fear of getting into trouble, not having enough time to report, and not knowing how to report a needle stick injury.

Gershon said the findings are not completely unexpected since patient care, including more complex types of care, is increasingly delivered at non-hospital based healthcare facilities, including out-patient clinics, nursing homes, doctor's offices, patients' homes and public health clinics.