SAFETY RESOURCES » 2008 Study of Nurses’ Views on Workplace Safety

2008 Study of Nurses’ Views on Workplace Safety and Needlestick Injuries

The 2008 Study of Nurses’ Views on Workplace Safety and Needlestick Injuries seeks to capture opinions, concerns, and experiences about workplace climate of nurse safety and needlestick injuries. The survey of more than 700 U.S. nurses, sponsored independently by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and Inviro Medical Devices, reveals NSIs and blood borne infections remain major concerns for nearly two-thirds (64%) of nurses. The research also highlights that concerns about nurse safety influences the decisions made by the vast majority of nurses (87%) about the type of nursing they do, and that nearly two-thirds of nurses (64%) have been accidentally stuck by a needle while working.

When Needlestick Injuries Occur

U.S. nurses detailed the event triggering their most recent needlestick injury. The three principal causes account for two-thirds (66%) of needlestick injuries:

Nurse safety is most at risk for needlestick injuries when doing any of the following activities.

While giving an injection
Before activating the safety feature
During disposal of non-safety device
After sharp was left on surface by co-worker
In response to action of co-worker
Other
While activating the safety feature

Workplace Climate of Nurse Safety

The majority of nurses nationwide (55%) say the safety climate of their workplace negatively impacts their personal safety. 59% of nurses say when pressure mounts, they feel the need to work faster. Nurses reveal the issues impacting the workplace climate of nurse safety:

Workplace safety if number one for nurse safety.

Increasing workloads
Workplace stress levels
Emphasis on productivity
Emphasis on patient-acuity levels
Work shifts of 12 hours or longer

Needlestick Injuries

74% of nurses say they would not consider working for an employer that does not provide a staff member, doctor, or a nurse with safety syringes. Nearly two-thirds (64%) report being accidentally stuck by a needle while working, and a staggering 74% report being stuck by a contaminated needle. Over the course of their career, nurses have experienced contaminated needlesticks:

Going Green!

Nurses nationwide express a strong interest in using a safety syringe with environmental benefits. This includes a safety syringe that:

Creates less medical waste
Uses less paper in packaging and shipping containers
Manufactured by a company with an environmentally friendly program
Uses recyclable components

Reporting Needlestick Injuries

While the vast majority (86%) of nurses nationwide say their department strongly encourages and supports reporting of needlestick injuries (NSIs), nearly three-quarters (74%) of nurses say NSIs still are underreported. Nurses believe the reasons for underreporting include:

Within one to two hours
Not evaluated or treated at all
Within four hours
Next day
Within eight hours
Longer than 24 hours afterwards

Learn more about needlestick injuries and what you can do to prevent them.