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Page last updated 7-23-04

© COPYRIGHT 2004 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TOTALBURNCARE.COM

Resident Orientation Manual  (Feb. 2000)

Produced by Galveston Shriners Burn Hospital and
The University of Texas Medical Branch Blocker Burn Unit.
Contributors:  Sally Abston MD, Patricia Blakeney PhD, Manubhai Desai MD,
Patricia Edgar RN, CIC,John P Heggers PhD, David N Herndon MD,
Marsha Hildreth RD, Janet A Marvin RN, MSN,
Ray J Nichols Jr. MD

PREVENTION OF SHARPS INJURIES

   Staff needs to consider the following in protecting themselves from sharps injuries and infections.

At the beginning of your employment and in orientation:

◦  Actively participate in all orientation/competency opportunities.

◦  Learn the hospital policies on blood-borne pathogens and how to follow them.

◦  Learn how to use the needle-less system/sharps safety equipment used by the hospital.

At the beginning of each shift:

◦  Locate the personal protective equipment (PPE), supplies for phlebotomies and vascular access, and disposal system for sharps.

◦  Be certain that the gloves fit you.

◦  Review types of vascular access and safety devices.

◦  Identify disposal containers.

During procedures:

◦  Follow the hospital's written procedures.

◦  Use appropriate PPE.  When setting up your workspace, place PPE in easy reach so that use is not overlooked in urgent situations.

◦  Assess your patient's ability to cooperate with you during any invasive procedure and protect yourself accordingly.  Follow the hospital's policy on the use of restraints and local anesthetics.

◦  Moving a patient increases the risk of injury.  Be certain to assess all IV access sites and equipment for stability prior to moving the patient, and stabilize all equipment and lines to prevent dislodging of sharps and disconnection of tubing.

◦  Respect sharps and their associated risks.  Follow the hospitals policies on re-sheathing and disposal.

◦  Do not place fingers inside a sharps disposal container.

◦  Don't overfill disposal containers.  Once a container is 3/4 full, start a new container.  Call Environmental Services to pick up the full container.
 

REMEMBER

√  Sharps are disposed of at the site of use is a sharps container.

√  Do not recap syringes.

√  Learn how to use the equipment the Shriners Galveston Hospital uses to help prevent needlestick.

If you do get a needlestick:
Clean and disinfect the injury first, then report the injury to your supervisor.  You will be asked to complete an occurrence report.

Next - Prevention of Needlesticks

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