Needlestick injuries are common in healthcare settings. Not only are these injuries painful, but they can result in complications like hepatitis B and HIV. They can have long-term consequences for healthcare workers and highlight the need for effective safety protocols.
Nurses are particularly exposed to needlestick injuries, and employers must take steps to prevent such incidents. Here are some important points to keep in mind.
How do needlestick injuries happen?
Needlestick injuries can happen in numerous ways. Unfortunately, many nurses are attacked with needles every year, often during violent encounters with patients or others in healthcare settings. Other common causes of needlestick injuries include:
- Being injured when performing routine tasks like recapping needles
- Improper disposal of needles, leaving them in places where accidental contact occurs
- Accidents during cleaning procedures, such as handling linens or waste containing used needles
Nurses are often short on time, and these types of accidents happen very easily in high-pressure environments like hospitals. Insufficient staffing, busy workspaces, and poorly maintained safety equipment can also contribute to the risk.
How can needlestick injuries be prevented?
There are some simple steps that healthcare facilities can take to prevent needlestick injuries. Safety training should be the start, ensuring all staff understand the dangers and proper handling techniques. Employers should also ensure the availability of safety-engineered devices like self-sheathing needles and sharps disposal containers to minimize exposure.
Hospitals can reduce risks further by enforcing strict protocols for the disposal and handling of needles and implementing no-recap policies.
Needlestick injuries are serious, and injured workers must seek urgent medical treatment. Washing the injured area properly and seeking emergency tests can help prevent long-term health complications.
Nurses care for others, and they must also be looked after properly. If you have been injured on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Seeking legal guidance can help you get compensated for your injuries.