title: Needlestick injuries to nurses, in context.
abstract: Injuries with used needles and other "sharps" put health care workers at risk for serious bloodborne infections, such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. To some extent, this risk can be lessened through safer techniques (such as not recapping needles) and safer devices (such as needleless and self-sheathing equipment). But these injuries occur within a context (often a hospital unit) with organizational features that may themselves contribute to an increased or decreased risk. This Issue Brief summarizes a series of studies that investigate whether workplace aspects of the hospital (such as staffing levels, and organizational structure and climate) affect the risk of needlestick injuries to nurses.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.forename: Linda H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Aiken
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015399:Nursing Research; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D016272:Occupational Health; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011482:Protective Devices; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace