Needlestick injury is the most serious risk and continuing issue that emergency nurses in Australia encounter. As part of nursing scope of practice, emergency nurses are often involved in many medical procedures and activities that deal with sharps in order to attend patients’ needs in a life-threatening situation, for instance, administration of medications, insertion of intravenous cannulation and extracting blood samples. Such activities are common in emergency rooms on a daily basis which contributes to increasing the rate of needlestick injuries among emergency nurses. In addition, Green-McKenzie and Shofer (2007) claim that workforce shortage, inconsistent nursing schedule and extended working hours more than eight hours per shift are also significant factors contributing to needlestick accidents.
