Caring for Those Who Care
Needlesticks: A Preventable Epidemic
While caring for others, RNs face the risk of needlesticks
every dayÐ exposing themselves to potentially lethal bloodborne pathogens like
HIV and hepatitis C. Yet, these needlestick injuries are preventable. The
American Nurses Association (ANA) is fighting this silent epidemic through its
Safe Needles Save Lives campaign. All nurses must work to address this
threat because:
* RNs and other health care workers sustain 600,000 to one million
needlestick and sharps injuries every yearÐresulting in at least 1,000 new cases
of health care workers with HIV, hepatitis C, or hepatitis B.
* The technology exists to protect health care workers from needlesticks, yet
less than 15 percent of U.S. hospitals use safer needle devices, such as
retractable needles.
* Needlesticks are preventableÐmore than 80 percent of needlestick injuries
can be prevented through the use of safer devices.
* Safer devices are cost-effectiveÐthey cost about 28 cents more per needle,
but the extra expense is minimal compared to the approximate $1 million for a
needlestick that results in a serious infection.
ANA: Leading the Fight
for Safer Devices
ANA has been calling for the use of safer devices and protections for health
care workers since the 1980s. The Safe Needles Save Lives campaign
encompasses all of ANA's work on this issue by advancing its agenda:
Through education . .
.
* ANA's professional practice advocacy begins with educating nurses about the
issues so that they can take action with ANA and their state nurses association
(SNA).
In the workplace . .
.
* Workplace Advocacy: ANA works with SNAs to educate RNs about their right to
a safer workplace and the importance of nurses leading the effort to evaluate,
select and implement safer needle devices.
* Collective Bargaining: ANA works with SNAs to negotiate contracts that
mandate employers provide only safer needle devices and also give additional
financial support to RNs who have been stuck.
In the policy arena . .
.
* Federal Legislation: ANA worked with members of Congress to craft the
Health Care Worker Needlestick Prevention Act, which was introduced in the U.S.
Senate and House in May 1999.
* State Legislation: ANA works with SNAs to introduce needlestick prevention
legislation. Four states have passed legislation mandating the use of safer
needle devices: California, Maryland, Tennessee and Texas. Legislation was
introduced in 1999 in 17 additional states. For the most recent information
about legislation, visit www.needlestick.org.
* Regulation: Due to ANA's efforts, the Occupational Safety and Health
Admin-istration (OSHA) has added needlestick prevention to its agenda. ANA is
pressing OSHA to mandate that all medical facilities use safer devices.
Join the
Fight!
* Request ANA's Safe Needles Save Lives kit, which contains the information
and tools you need to educate your colleagues and promote the use of safer
needles.
* Educate your colleagues about needlestick risks and prevention strategies.
Encourage your colleagues to report all needlesticks to ensure appropriate
follow-up, worker's compensation and accurate needlestick data.
* Work with your SNA to institute safer needles at your workplace and other
facilities throughout the state.
* Support state and federal legislation by writing letters to your elected
representatives.
It Can Happen to
You
Young or old, new or experienced, working in a rural or urban setting, we are
all at risk. Together we must work to protect all nurses and other health care
workers from the preventable risk of needlesticks and potentially
life-threatening infections they may bring.
"This injury and the life-altering consequences I am now suffering should
not have happened and would not have happened if a safer system had been in
place in my work setting."
"I tell my story so it doesn't become someone else's story. There is
technology out there that can prevent what happened to me. I want nurses to be
proactive--to protect themselves and to demand that the hospital use the
technology that's available to protect them."
"I'm living proof that needlesticks do happen and their consequences last a
lifetime."
Additional
Resources:
ANA's Bloodborne Pathogen
Brochure (WP-2) OSHA's Safer Needle Devices: Protecting Health Care Workers NIOSH Guidelines for Selecting, Evaluating, and Using Sharps Disposal
Containers. Pub. #97-111, 1998. (To order, call 1-800-35NIOSH)
Sharps Injury Prevention Program A Step-By-Step Guide, by Pugliese G. and M.
Salahuddin Chicago: American Hospital Association, 1999.
Web Sites:
ANA's web site: http://www.needlestick.org/
The University of Virginia International Health Care Worker Safety Center:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/
OSHA: http://www.osha.gov/
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: www.cdc.gov/niosh
Massachusetts Nurses
Association president
Contracted HIV and hepatitis C from a needlestick
Nevada Nurses Association member
Contracted HIV and hepatitis C from a needlestick
Pennsylvania State Nurses
Association member
Founder of the National Campaign for Healthcare Worker
Safety, Inc.
Contracted HIV from a needlestick
(To order call 1-800-274-4262)
(available on
http://www.osha.gov/ or contact your SNA)
www.med.virginia.edu/~epinet
Return to the ANA at Work main
page
| Sitemap | Home | Feedback | Join ANA |