FLORIDA HOSPITAL-EMPLOYEE HEALTH PREVENTION OF SHARPS INJURIES AND EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS

M I C H E L L E S C A R L E T T

A N D

M A R I E D E C E U S

EMPLOYEE HEALTH

Employee Health, is a health service provided through Florida Hospital, to their employees, to ensure preventive health solutions in interacting with patients and other health care workers.  

Population type- all employees

CDC-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 385,000 sharps-related injuries occur annually among health care workers in hospitals.

POPULATION

Population needs- reduce sharp injuries and exposure to blood and bodily fluids.

Injured on the job??

• Report to the employee Health Office

• If employee Health is closed report to the closest Florida Hospital Department.

• Complete Incident Report.

EMPLOYEE HEALTH PROTOCOLS

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT GOALS

Employee health, at

Florida Hospital

Tampa, will gain a

better understanding

regarding the need

for education

awareness and

training on sharps

safety and preventing

exposures to blood

and bodily fluids.

OBJECTIVESF O L L O W I N G T H E E N D O F T H I S S U RV E Y O N J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 3 , E M P L O Y E E H E A LT H W I L L B E A B L E T O I D E N T I F Y B E T W E E N T H E N U R S E T E C H S , L P N S O R R N S W I T H I N 8 D E PA R T M E N T S , W H I C H O F T H E S E O C C U PAT I O N S H AV E T H E H I G H E S T N U M B E R O F S H A R P I N J U R I E S .

T H I S S U R V E Y W I L L I D E N T I F Y I F N U R S E T E C H S , L P N S O R R N S W I T H I N 8 D E P A R T M E N T S A R E F A M I L I A R W I T H T H E R E P O R T I N G P O L I C I E S F O R R E P O R T I N G E X P O S U R E S T O B L O O D A N D B O D I L Y F L U I D S O N J U L Y 3 , 2 0 1 3 .

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT RATIONALE

Over 18 departments reported sharp injuries exposures within the last 6 months.

10.5% from 6 main Observation Unit

15.3% of the report was from 4 main PPCU

26.3% of the reports were by RN’s and 15.8 % of the report were from nurse technicians.

ObjectiveHIV- 3-Prevent an

increase in the rate of transmission among adolescents and adults (United States Department of Health, 2013).

Relationship Employee health would like to

see a decrease in sharps exposure and exposure to blood and bodily fluids, in keeping a safe environment for all employee’s.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020

IMPLEMENTATION

The nurse manager took our information and agreed to share it with the management staff of the hospital.

3 Main- Continuous education on proper use of needles for lab draws and safety

4 main- Post guidelines in regards to steps to take when exposed

5 South-Butterfly needles for blood draws feel dangerous. We need more goggles

6 Main- More awareness-discuss in meetings

ER- Education/training on new sharps equipment

PARTICIPANTS RESPONSES

MODIFICATIONS

The sample size was too small for the two floors we originally decided to survey, which was 4 main Observation Unit and 6 main PPCU.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO SHARPS INJURIES, BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AT FLORIDA HOSPITAL OF TAMPA

77 nurses and nurse techs completed the survey out of a possible 97 nurses and nurse techs.

Overall 79% employees completed the survey

Nurse68%

Nurse Techs32%

Staff Occupation

HEALTH POLICY RELATED TO CLINICAL SITE AND SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT

OSHA:-Basic requirement. You must record all work-related needlestick injuries and cuts from sharp objects that are contaminated with another person's blood or other potentially infectious material (as defined by 29 CFR 1910.1030). You must enter the case on the OSHA 300 Log as an injury. To protect the employee's privacy, you may not enter the employee's name on the OSHA 300 Log (see the requirements for privacy cases in paragraphs 1904.29(b)(6) through 1904.29(b)(9)) (United States Department of Labor, 2013)

EVIDENCE BASEDEducational programs and sharps injuries in

health care workers

“Sharps injuries in health care personnel still represent a significant problem worldwide. Many studies show a reduction in sharps injuries following the introduction and use of different protection devices, but few studies focus on the role of training programs in the prevention of such injuries” (Brusaferro, 2009)

Posting guidelines within each department on the prevention and the reporting protocol of exposures to sharps injuries, blood and bodily fluids.

Promoting sharps safety at skills fair.

GOALS FOR THE

REMEMBER PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM BLOOD AND BODILY FLUIDS EXPOSURES BEGINS WITH YOU!!

REFERENCES

• Brusaferro, S. S., Calligaris, L., Farneti, F. F., Gubian, F. F., Londero, C. C., & Baldo, V. V. (2009). Educational programes and sharps injuries in health care workers. Occupational Medicine, 59(7), 512-514. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqp112

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Workplace Safety and Health Topics. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/emergnedl.html

• United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). Healthy People 2020 Topic and Objectives. Retrieved From

http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/default.aspx

• United States Department of Labor. (2013). Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9639