S22 · Staff exposure to needles or body fluids (workplace safety)
Risk Safety and protection
Definition
Healthcare workers may be exposed to blood-borne infection through sharps or splashes.- Sharps injuries
- splashes
- poor technique
- lack of protective equipment
- Needle-stick injury
- splashes
- incomplete hand hygiene
📋 Scenario
A nurse works in a busy clinic where the sharps bin is overfull and needles are sometimes recapped by hand.
Subjective (S): Nurse: "We never have time to use the safety devices."
Objective (O): Overfull sharps bin; needles recapped by hand; safety devices not used; gloves out of stock.
Assessment tools for this scenario: CP-SAFE Safety & Falls Score
Validated scales to consider: Morse Fall Scale
**CarePath diagnosis:** Staff exposure to needles or body fluids (workplace safety) related to poor technique and lack of protective equipment (risk factors); no signs of the problem are present yet.
**Interventions and rationale**
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Use safety devices. | Safety devices cover or retract the needle after use, which directly lowers the chance of a needle-stick injury. |
| Keep a sharps bin at the point of use. | A bin within reach means sharps are discarded at once, so they are not carried or left lying around. |
| Never recap. | Hand recapping is a common cause of needle-stick injuries, because the needle can slip into the fingers. |
| Wear gloves and eye protection. | Gloves and eye protection create a barrier against blood and splashes, which can carry infections such as hepatitis B and HIV. |
| Report exposure immediately. | Early reporting allows quick washing, risk assessment and post-exposure treatment, which work best when started soon. |
**Expected outcomes**
- No needle-stick or splash injury during the shift.
- Sharps bin emptied and safety devices available.
- Staff state the steps to take after an exposure (wash, report at once, post-exposure care).
**Linking the data to the diagnosis**
A nurse works in a busy clinic where the sharps bin is overfull, needles are sometimes recapped by hand, safety devices are not used and gloves are out of stock. She says, "We never have time to use the safety devices." No injury or splash has happened, so this is a risk diagnosis based on poor technique and lack of protective equipment, not an actual exposure. The plan aims for no needle-stick or splash injury during the shift, an emptied bin, available safety devices and staff who know what to do after an exposure.
CarePath diagnosis
Staff exposure to needles or body fluids (workplace safety) related to poor technique and lack of protective equipment (risk factors); no signs of the problem are present yet.
Interventions and rationale
Listed in priority order.
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 1. Use safety devices. | Safety devices cover or retract the needle after use, which directly lowers the chance of a needle-stick injury. |
| 2. Keep a sharps bin at the point of use. | A bin within reach means sharps are discarded at once, so they are not carried or left lying around. |
| 3. Never recap. | Hand recapping is a common cause of needle-stick injuries, because the needle can slip into the fingers. |
| 4. Wear gloves and eye protection. | Gloves and eye protection create a barrier against blood and splashes, which can carry infections such as hepatitis B and HIV. |
| 5. Report exposure immediately. | Early reporting allows quick washing, risk assessment and post-exposure treatment, which work best when started soon. |
Expected outcomes
- No needle-stick or splash injury during the shift.
- Sharps bin emptied and safety devices available.
- Staff state the steps to take after an exposure (wash, report at once, post-exposure care).
Linking the data to the diagnosis
A nurse works in a busy clinic where the sharps bin is overfull, needles are sometimes recapped by hand, safety devices are not used and gloves are out of stock. She says, "We never have time to use the safety devices." No injury or splash has happened, so this is a risk diagnosis based on poor technique and lack of protective equipment, not an actual exposure. The plan aims for no needle-stick or splash injury during the shift, an emptied bin, available safety devices and staff who know what to do after an exposure.