Training shatters myths on bloodborne exposures
Training shatters myths on bloodborne exposures
Misinformation persists, leads to needlesticks
When needlestick injuries occur, work practices often are a contributing factor. Training is an essential component of maintaining safe practices. And while bloodborne pathogen training may focus on specific protective devices, it also needs to address and correct some common misconceptions, says Sandra Elias, RN, OHN, an occupational health and workers’ compensation consultant with US Health Works in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.
Elias provides bloodborne pathogen training in a variety of settings, including hospitals. But wherever she goes, she finds a consistency in the myths and misinformation. Here are some misconceptions that Elias tries to correct:
• Safety engineered sharps automatically are safer.
These sharps only are safer if the health care worker properly engages the protective feature. "People think it’s an engineered safety sharp, they’re not being careful, and they’re still getting stuck," Elias says. For example, one type of safety device requires the user to place it on a hard surface to flip up the shield. "People are flipping it up with their fingers, and they’re getting stuck," she says. People also sometimes use two hands to activate a device when the design calls for using a single hand. Employees may need additional training in using the device, and the training needs to be followed up with observation to make sure staff are activating the devices properly.
• Recapping needles is OK.
OSHA has clearly prohibited the recapping of needles, except in the case of medical necessity. There must be no alternative to the recapping — a situation that is rare, Elias says. Many health care workers continue to recap needles despite the warnings. "They don’t think there’s any harm in it," she says.
• It is safe to pick up broken glass with gloves.
If a blood tube or some other specimen falls to the floor and breaks, health care workers often pick up the broken glass with a gloved hand. But the glass can puncture the glove and expose the worker, cautions Elias.
"Employees are not allowed to pick up broken glass or metal with their gloves on," she says. "They need to sweep it up with a broom." One other precaution when cleaning blood or body fluid spills: The workers should wear disposable booties so the substance isn’t tracked on their shoes to other parts of the hospital or to their home.
• Bloodborne exposures can be reported at any time.
Too often, health care workers fail to report bloodborne exposures immediately. "If they get a bloodborne exposure, even though their company policy is to report it right away, they feel they can wait. It if happens on a Friday, they wait until Tuesday to tell someone," she says. That delays the assessment and possible post-exposure treatment. If the health care worker has been exposed to HIV or hepatitis B, treatment needs to occur within 24 hours.
• One exposure control plan is fine for all hospital sites.
One basic plan may apply to the entire hospital, but each location, such as clinics, satellite campuses, outpatient surgery centers, needs a customized version, says Elias. For example, employees at those locations need to know where to find personal protective equipment.
• You can get AIDS from someone sneezing.
Health professionals know that’s false, but what about housekeepers, food service workers, and security personnel? Many of them still may believe that HIV can be transmitted through casual contact. Your bloodborne pathogen training needs to address myths about HIV transmission. Baseless fears still exist among those less knowledgeable about the disease, says Elias.
[Editor’s note: Sandra Elias can be reached at [email protected] or at (714) 324-0807.]
When needlestick injuries occur, work practices often are a contributing factor. Training is an essential component of maintaining safe practices. And while bloodborne pathogen training may focus on specific protective devices, it also needs to address and correct some common misconceptions.
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