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Needlestick injuries among nursing staff: association with shift-level staffing
Patricia A Patrician1, Erica Pryor, Moshe Fridman
1Department of Community Health, Outcomes, and Systems, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, AL, USA. ppatrici@uab.edu
American Journal of Infection Control
|May 27, 2011
Summary
Lower nurse staffing levels, including fewer experienced nurses and less care per patient, are linked to increased needlestick injuries. Adequate staffing and vigilance are crucial for preventing these occupational hazards.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Occupational Health
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Despite safety measures, percutaneous injuries remain a risk for healthcare workers.
- Needlestick injuries pose a significant threat to nursing staff, necessitating further investigation into contributing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between shift-level nurse staffing and the occurrence of needlestick injuries.
- To identify specific staffing-related factors that correlate with increased risk of needlestick injuries.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Military Nursing Outcomes Database (MilNOD) from 2003-2006.
- Analyzed shift-level staffing, patient occupancy, and acuity data alongside needlestick injury reports.
- Employed hierarchical logistic regression with Bayesian modeling to assess associations.
Main Results:
- Identified that lower registered nurse (RN) skill mix, a reduced percentage of experienced staff, and fewer nursing care hours per patient per shift were associated with needlestick occurrences.
- Found no significant difference in injury rates across different unit types.
- Reported that 80 out of 108,000 shifts experienced at least one needlestick injury.
Conclusions:
- Needlestick injuries persist despite existing safety protocols.
- Adequate nurse staffing on all shifts and heightened vigilance during high workload periods are essential components of a strong safety culture.
- Findings underscore the importance of optimizing staffing to mitigate occupational risks for nurses.
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