Needle Sharps Injury Research Paper

The standard precautions are implemented at all times to decrease the risk of transmitting infectious agents. Assuming that all patients could carry an infection, this minimises the potential spread of HAI’s. These standard precautions include routine hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, safe handling and disposure of sharps and routine environmental cleaning.4,5 In this situation, where blood is present, this is considered a biohazard. Hand hygiene must be performed before touching the patient, before and after any procedures or exposure to bodily substances and after touching the patient or any of the patient’s surroundings. The use of Personal protective equipment should be used when attending to the patient. This includes protective eye wear, a surgical mask and an apron for protection from any splashes or sprays of blood generated by the patient. Gloves should also be worn for single use only when coming in contact with open skin and bodily fluids. To minimise the spread of blood, the bystander with visibly soiled hands should also be advised to thoroughly clean them with soap and

At a clinical site, the risk of sharps injuries depends on the procedure that a healthcare provider is carrying out. Invasive procedures are considered as high risk

Errors in medicine are unfortunately plentiful, and are also oftentimes preventable. Even with technology, regulations, and procedures designed to improve health care and reduce errors, the occurrences are still much too high. Recent statistics from the World Health Organization show that 10% of hospitalized patients are harmed during their stay, and 1.4 million people at any time are suffering from hospital-acquired infections. It is estimated that when it comes to surgical care, 50% of associated complications are preventable (WHO). There are always ways to improve how tasks are performed in hospitals, and studying recent incidents can help us

Through medical advances in technology and practice, nurses have been afforded the opportunity to provide lifesaving care to patients. However, this lifesaving care comes with the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Generally speaking, HAIs are infections directly related with the delivery of healthcare and are often caused by viral, bacterial or

The purpose of this paper is intended to provide a review of the above formulated topic and backed up by research compiled through scholarly peer-reviewed literature as well as supportive statistical from entities such as: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), World Health Organization (WHO), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Further consideration was given to areas within OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standards that may have contributed to the mitigation of injuries in healthcare settings as they relate to occupational percutaneous injuries. Scholarly peer-reviewed literature and journals dating from 2002 to 2015 obtained from the University of West Florida library database were used to validate the findings on the impact of needlestick injuries since the BBP revisions were enacted while further comprehending its relation needlestick injuries and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

The injured health care professional may eventually need to change their career path secondary to permanent MSD’s (Menzel & Nelson, 2010). Recent studies report a sixty thousand dollar annual reduction in medical costs when safe staffing is maintained (ANA, 2011). Additionally, reduced malpractice claims, payouts, readmission, denials and fines will be experience when adequate staffing is maintained (ANA, 2011). Most noteworthy, the patient’s may experience less pain or suffering and therefore better outcomes can be anticipated with safe staffing. This sends a clear message to management; powered devices are an investment that can reduce staff injuries while also ensuring the safe handling of the patients as well.

Records should be regularly analysed so that problem areas can be identified and decisions about the development of new or updated injury prevention strategies can be made. These decisions can help to prevent future injuries and will contribute towards cost management for the organisation. Immediate response documentation and record keeping for an accident may include time and date of incident, how the incident occurred, who witnessed and reported the incident, injury description, details of first aid applied and who it was reported to. When infection control hazards and incidents are reported immediately, it helps ensure prompt investigation, assessment and long and short-term control development. This then becomes part of the critical management cycle of ensuring hazards and risks are

I have never known that there are different types of inhaler until today, or that needles have multiple parts. I always learn something new every week in clinical. I learned how to give different types of injection and where they should be injected in the body, and I also learned the higher the number the smaller the diameter. Needle stick injury happens sometimes and when it occurs, the area need to be washed immediately before calling the employee health and reporting it. I am doing well this semester and I am meeting my goals every week. I am continuing to go a tutor, reviewing my notes for theory within 24 hours, and also continue to go to SI session, which has been extremely helpful in critical thinking. I am increasing my knowledge every

Never events are serious, largely preventable patient safety incidents that should not occur (NPSA 2010). Being in the surgical aspect of nursing, keeping patients safe throughout their surgical

Each year, 385,000 needlestick injuries and other sharps related injuries are sustained by hospital based healthcare professionals; which equates to an average of almost 1,000 sharps injuries per day in the U.S. Accidental needlestick and sharps not only cause injuries, but they also carry a major risk for transmission of blood borne infections. Although virtually all healthcare workers are at risk of harm from occupational exposures such as these, the Center for Disease Control notes that nurses sustain approximately half of all needlestick injuries. While there are several precautions and regulations implemented on the administration and disposal of sharps, many

The touches of the needle piercing through my skin and back out was perhaps the grossest yet oddly amazing thing I have ever experienced in my life. Through the thirty minutes on the hospital bed, I had sat through having a stranger sew a stitch on the upper left area of my forehand after coming out of car crash earlier that day. I did not think much of the stitches, but rather, found the fascination upon it. My first initial thought after tracing my fingers on the bumps was how amazing this was, how different it was to know that some stranger did something to me. It even looked pretty cool to show off for all the other kindergartner classmates, watching their face of horror as I walked into the classroom that following school day. They were terrified, I was intrigued, intrigued by the works of someone that knew enough to make my body better.

The Australian College of Operating Room Nurses (2014) also recommend the wearing of personal protection equipment, proper disposal of sharps and the inclusion of a sharps injury prevention education program as part of the operating suite professional development. Although guidelines for the safe handling of sharps have been developed by professional bodies, national governance bodies and facilities there continues to be high numbers of sharps injuries (Jagger et al.,

While the ones who work in a hospital setting are most at risk, anyone who cleans up or disposes of public trash may occasionally encounter a used needle or two. If the worker is not paying attention or actively protecting himself, he could easily be stuck with contaminated sharp object.

Needle Stick and Splash Injuries (NSSIs) include penetrating stab wounds from needles (or other sharp objects) and mucosal contact that may result in exposure to blood or other body fluids. ‘At least 20 different pathogens are known to have been transmitted by NSSIs’[1], notably, Hepatitis B and C viruses and HIV. The average risk for HIV transmission after a per cutaneous exposure is estimated to be approximately 0.3%, that of HBV and HCV transmission is 6-30% and 1.8% respectively[2].

Needlestick injury is the piercing of skin by a needle which was in contact with blood, tissue, or other body fluid before the exposure. It’s very important that appropriate precautions are taken to prevent needlestick injuries to avoid any untreatable blood-borne diseases. The three common blood-borne diseases that have infected healthcare workers after a needlestick injuries are Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. During the inspection, nurses who were assigned to draw blood were seen handling the needlestick carelessly, leaving our organization concern about the safety of the patients. This organization’s goal is to provide equipment and support to developing and slightly developed countries with