السعودية العربية المملكةالتعليم وزارة

حـائل جامـعـةالتمريض كلية

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIAMinistry of Education

University of Ha’ilCollege of Nursing

CLINICAL SKILLS UNITClinical Policies and Protocols

TITLE:Needle Stick Injury

DOCUMENT TYPE:Policy

DEPARTMENT:Clinical Skills Unit

EFFECTIVE DATE: LAST REVISED:

APPROVED BY:Dr. Salman Alsaqri

APPLIES TO:Field Teaching Staff

NO. OF PAGES:1

Purpose:

To provide guidelines for students and field experienced instructors to avoid occupational blood exposures to prevent transmission of blood-borne pathogens and infections like Hepatatis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.

Definition

Needle stick Injuries are wounds caused by used medical sharp such as needles or scalpel blade that accidentally puncture the skin. These injury expose health workers, students and field experienced instructor to blood borne diseases like hepatitis and HIV.

Policy:

1. All students and field experienced instructors must undertake sharp prevention training.2. All clinical area and laboratory must have adequate supplies of sharp boxes on trolley and sharp

safe boxes on trays available so that sharp can be dispose at the point of use.3. It is the responsibility of the field experienced instructor in the laboratory to ensure that the

sharp boxes are checked and replaced when full and correctly labeled for disposal.4. Overstuffing sharp box must not be allowed. Properly dispose of sharp boxes when it is ¾ or 75%

full.5. When using a medical sharp at the clinical area, laboratory or community always have a sharp

box to dispose of the sharp immediately after used. 6. During laboratory or clinical procedures the field experienced instructor in charge has the

responsibility to ensure the safe keeping, use, storage and safe disposal of all sharps and associated equipment.

Page 1 of 2

السعودية العربية المملكةالتعليم وزارة

حـائل جامـعـةالتمريض كلية

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIAMinistry of Education

University of Ha’ilCollege of Nursing

7. When using a sharp equipment, always concentrate on the task in hand, do not allow yourself to be distracted, maintain visual contact with sharps in use at all times.

8. Never leave use sharp unattended, always dispose of equipment immediately and safely before undertaking another task.

9. NEVER RECAP USED NEEDLES or manipulate them with both hand or by any other technique that involves directing the point of a needle toward any part of the body.

10. Do not remove used needle form disposable syringes by hand.11. Do not bend break or otherwise manipulate used needles by hand.12. Take care when disposing of sharps into the sharp box. Be aware of needle rebound and

possibly protruding sharps from around the box.13. Take care clearing up following procedure, be aware of sharps hidden under gauze or

equipment that could cause an injury.14. If handed a sharp instrument eg.. scissor, scalpel, never take the sharp end and wherever

possible always use a receiver to take and give sharps instruments. 15. If you find sharp in an inappropriate place, take extra care. Pick up the sharps with forceps or

gently sweep into a dustpan using a brush and place into the nearest sharp box. Report the incident to the field experienced instructor.

16. Students and field experienced instructors should cover any cuts or abrasions they have with an occlusive dressing.

Management of needle stick injury

1. Wash the affected area with soap and warm running water or with a disinfectant, do not scrub.2. Inform the field experienced instructor . 3. The filed experienced instructor will make an incident report and if in clinical area the student

will be referred to the infection control unit of the hospital.

Source: Adopted from King Khaled Hospital Protocols and Procedures

Page 2 of 2