Inside...
ANA Member Center
Especially For You
Safe Needles Save Lives
Join ANA in the fight for a safer workplace
Resources
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.
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.
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.
Summary: An increasing percentage of HIV/AIDS cases are related to injection drug use (IDU). The sharing of contaminated needles is the primary method of transmission for intravenous drug users. Nurses support the availability of needle exchange programs which include adherence to public health and infection control guidelines, access for referral to treatment and rehabilitation services, and education about the transmission of HIV disease.
Summary: 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 health care agency. A comprehensive post-exposure program should be in place to assure that employees receive accurate information, guidance, reassurance, and supportive care.
Summary: 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.
© 2008 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved
American Nurses Association - 8515 Georgia Avenue - Suite 400 - Silver Spring, MD 20910
1-800-274-4ANA | Copyright Policy | Privacy Statement Link