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Safe Needles Save Lives

Join ANA in the fight for a safer workplace

It is estimated a thousand health care professionals are injured each day as the result of hospital accidents involving needles or other sharp objects, according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC). This is a hazard to nurses, who are then susceptible to blood-borne diseases, as well as the patients in their care. Injury prevention in healthcare settings is a top priority and needs to be addressed as part of any effort to establish a safer working environment.

Resources

ANA Backgrounder: Needlestick and Sharps Injuries [pdf]

Workplace Safety And Needlestick Injuries Are Top Concerns For Nurses (6/24/08) [pdf]
This press release was put out by ANA to bring awareness to how widespread needlestick injuries are in the health care industry. The release notes ways to minimize this risk, such as using safety syringes, prevention education, and advocacy for safety in the workplace.

2008 Study of Nurses’ Views on Workplace Safety and Needlestick Injuries [pdf]
The 2008 Study of Nurses’ Views on Workplace Safety and Needlestick Injuries seeks to capture opinions, concerns and experiences about workplace safety climate and needlestick injuries (NSIs).

The independent survey of more than 700 U.S. nurses, sponsored by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and Inviro Medical Devices, reveals NSIs and blood borne infections remain major concerns for nearly two-thirds (64%) of nurses. The research also highlights that safety concerns influence the decisions made by the vast majority of nurses (87%) about the type of nursing they do, and that nearly two-thirds of nurses (64%) have been accidentally stuck by a needle while working.

2007 Study of Injectable Medication Errors [pdf]
The 2007 Study of Injectable Medication Errors gathered opinions of 1,039 U.S. nurses about errors related to injectable medications and syringe labeling. The independent research, sponsored by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and Inviro Medical Devices, reveals 97% of nurses worry about medication errors, and two-thirds (68%) believe medication errors could be reduced with more consistent syringe labeling.

ANA Needlestick Prevention Guide [pdf]
Every year, hundreds of thousands of health care workers are exposed to deadly diseases like HIV and hepatitis C through needlestick and sharps injuries. With today’s technology, nurses no longer need to face such high risks. ANA is dedicated to working with nurses across the country to significantly reduce needlestick and sharps injuries.

Position Statement Background Info (ANA Members Only): Needle Exchange and HIV - 4/02/93
ANA's Official Position on This Issue: The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports:
-the availability of needle exchange programs which include:
-the adherence to public health and infection control guidelines,
-education about the transmission of HIV disease
-confidential HIV testing with pre & post-test counseling,
-access for referral of injection drug users (IDUs) to treatment and rehabilitation services.
-access to needle exchange programs at the local community level,
-the development of public policy to support needle exchange programs with access to health screening and drug treatment services,
-the utilization of qualified health care providers, including nurses, as resources for quality, cost-effective program outcomes, and
-continued research of the effectiveness of needle exchange programs which include access to primary health care screening and drug treatment.

Position Statement Background Info (ANA Members Only): Post-Exposure Programs in the Event of Occupational Exposure to HIV/HBV - 9/06/91
ANA's Official Position on This Issue: The American Nurses Association (ANA) encourages the prompt access to confidential post-exposure evaluations, counseling, and follow-up by knowledgeable clinicians. These procedures should be considered the standard of care by any healthcare agency. A comprehensive post-exposure program should be in place to assure that employees receive accurate information, guidance, reassurance, and supportive care.

Position Statement Background Info (ANA Members Only): Equipment/Safety Procedures to Prevent Transmission of Bloodborne Diseases - 9/06/91
ANA's Official Position on This Issue: The American Nurses Association (ANA) urges immediate and ongoing research and evaluation of devices and equipment intended to reduce risk of injury from sharps and of personal protective equipment designed to reduce exposure. In order to reduce the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, ANA supports the consistent and strict use of universal precautions; the availability of proven safety measures; the standardization of methods to assure equipment is safe; and the continued evaluation and modification of work practices to assure optimum safety in the workplace.

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Safe Needles Save Lives

Join ANA in the fight for a safer workplace

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