Question

Brenda is an advanced practice occupational health nurse. She works in the employee health clinic of a teaching hospital. This morning, employee Cindy T visits Nurse Brenda after accidently sticking herself with a needle she just used to draw blood from one of her patients.

Cindy tells Nurse Brenda that she graduated last year from nursing school and has been working on the cancer unit for the past 8 months. Cindy usually works the night shift, but she was called to fill in for an evening shift nurse who was out sick. Cindy was not accustomed to the evening shift routine and felt disoriented. One of Cindy's patients was admitted to the floor one hour before her shift started and needed several lab tests done. The day shift nurse did not have time to draw blood for the lab and passed the task to Cindy. This was the second time she drew blood for labs, and she had difficulty finding the vein. Cindy was relieved when the blood was finally drawn, but as she was cleaning up her supplies, she felt a sharp tinge of pain in her hand. She looked down and saw the used needle in her finger. The nurse manager for her unit sent Cindy to employee health.

Nurse Brenda counsels Cindy about the risks associated with needle-stick injuries and the seriousness of Cindy's exposure; she explains the testing for bloodborne pathogens that Cindy will have to undergo.

Use the above case study to answer the following questions:

1) What host and psychosocial factors increase the risk that this employee may experience an accidental needle stick?

2) In the hospital, who else besides bedside nurses are at high risk for exposure to a biological agent through accidental needle stick?

3) What can Brenda do to decrease the number of accidental needle sticks at her hospital?

Answer 1

1. Ms. Cindy was working in a night shift and have minimal clinical experience this is concern as a prime reason for accidental needle stick injury, Needle stick injury increases the danger of transmitting blood borne infections . The risk of contracting blood borne infections like HIV,Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C will put the nurse in undue stress results in health anxiety and depression.

2. All health workers includes Doctors,Nurses,Surgical staff ,Laboratory personnels who are all rendering direct patient care dealing with blood and blood products are at a high risk of accidental Needle stick injury.

3. The recommended measures to decrease needle sticks includes :

i) Use of personal protective equipments like gloves,mask,eye googles and face shields.

ii) Avoid recapping needles

iii) Empty containers with sharp needle disposals before its over filled.

iv) Consistent training from quality team by creating awareness among health workers regarding safe needling techniques, disposal protocol.