Minimizing nurses' risks for needlestick injuries in the hospital setting

Despite advances in safety mechanisms for sharps, nurses continue to be at high risk for needlestick injuries, with more than half of all nurses experiencing at least one needlestick injury during their careers. Needlestick injury risk appears to be the result of three incident factors: nurses' sense of urgency, variable shift work, and lower skill level related to years of experience, academic degree, and younger age. This article synthesizes the evidence related to these risk factors among nurses in the hospital setting. Evidence linking needlestick injury risk with both variable shift work and lower skill level is demonstrated. The evidence supporting a relationship between needlestick injury risk and nurses' sense of urgency is conflicting. It is the authors' goal to reduce needlestick injury risk for nurses; therefore, specific changes to hospital nursing practice are recommended based on the evidence identified.