Ensure That Primary Prevention Is Part Of Your Needlestick Safety Program

By Marilyn Hanchett, RN

Developing and maintaining an effective needlestick prevention program is one of the most important organizational safety measures for minimizing, and ideally eliminating, the threat of occupational exposures for clinicians and other at-risk employees. But designing this type of program is not a simple process and most healthcare facilities continue to struggle with needlestics safety.

Traditionally, needlestick safety programs have focused on the use of secondary prevention measures. In secondary prevention the needle or other sharp object is made safer through blunting, shielding or retracting. Primary prevention seeks to remove the needle or sharp object completely or, when that is not feasible, to reduce the frequency of its use.

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