Literature Review In the article “Safe Needles Save Lives” it discusses how even though there is a law for the use of safe needles, sharps are still injuring too many nurses. “In eight years of data collecting, there have been 25,000 reported injuries occurring during injection procedures. (Trossman, 2010).” The article believes that sharps injuries can be prevented if health care professionals all work together to emphasize the importance of sharps injury prevention so there is more awareness. To reduce the amount of sharps injuries they discuss how there should be input of direct care staff in the selecting of safer devices. Another idea they want to implement is that nurses are involved in the selection of devices and that proper training
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each year (Jagger, et al, 2011).” It discusses how percutaneous injuries to staff carry the same risk for patients and the potential for infection transmission from provider to patient and patient to provider. The three most common causes of sharps injuries are suture needles, scalpels, and disposable syringes and most injuries occur while the device was being used or passed. Strategies that the article says can reduce the risk of sharps injury are, “substituting blunt suture needles with a 59% reduction in suture needle injuries, the use of the hands-free neutral zone technique reduces overall injury by 35%-59% (Jagger, et al, 2010).” If these strategies are properly used there would be a reduction in sharps injuries as well as a reduction in patients’ risk of exposure to surgical team members’ blood therefore reducing their risk of infection. Although all three sources have different statistics the general information and what can be done is similar. All three sources agree that the use of blunt needles, double gloving technique, and the practice of the hands-free neutral zone technique are the best ways to reduce the amount of sharps injuries. With the reduction of sharps injuries come a safer surgical environment
each year (Jagger, et al, 2011).” It discusses how percutaneous injuries to staff carry the same risk for patients and the potential for infection transmission from provider to patient and patient to provider. The three most common causes of sharps injuries are suture needles, scalpels, and disposable syringes and most injuries occur while the device was being used or passed. Strategies that the article says can reduce the risk of sharps injury are, “substituting blunt suture needles with a 59% reduction in suture needle injuries, the use of the hands-free neutral zone technique reduces overall injury by 35%-59% (Jagger, et al, 2010).” If these strategies are properly used there would be a reduction in sharps injuries as well as a reduction in patients’ risk of exposure to surgical team members’ blood therefore reducing their risk of infection. Although all three sources have different statistics the general information and what can be done is similar. All three sources agree that the use of blunt needles, double gloving technique, and the practice of the hands-free neutral zone technique are the best ways to reduce the amount of sharps injuries. With the reduction of sharps injuries come a safer surgical environment