Guidelines in Practice: Sharps Safety

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Safety
• Occupational Health
• Infection Prevention

Background:

• Perioperative personnel are vulnerable to sharps injuries from surgical devices.
• Exposure to bloodborne pathogens poses a significant infection risk.
• Regulatory standards, like the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, mandate protective measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide guidance on implementing the AORN "Guideline for sharps safety."
• To detail work practice and administrative controls for handling sharps.
• To support the development of policies and procedures for sharps injury prevention.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of AORN guideline recommendations.
• Review of work practice and administrative controls.
• Presentation of an interdisciplinary team scenario for risk assessment and policy development.

Main Results:

• The article outlines strategies for identifying sharps hazards.
• It emphasizes the implementation of best practices to prevent injuries.
• A case scenario illustrates successful risk reduction and policy creation.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to the AORN "Guideline for sharps safety" is crucial.
• Developing and updating policies for sharps safety requires a comprehensive approach.
• Perioperative Registered Nurses (RNs) should utilize the full guideline for policy enhancement.