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8/6/2013 |
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In This Issue
• Protecting Health Care Workers
• IGG
• Latest News & Blog Posts
• Featured Author - Kevin Stansbury |
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Protecting Our Health Care Workers
By Catheryn Peplinski, MBA, RT, ARDMS July 2013
Much has changed since the passing of the federal Needlestick Safety and Protection Act in 2000. A health care topic that we will always need to revisit is the need for Needlestick safety and prevention. With our continuing introduction of new health care providers, the continued education process needs to be updated and stressed upon.
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OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, including its 2001 revisions, applies to all employers who have employees with reasonably anticipated occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). Employers must implement the applicable requirements set forth in the standard. Some of the provisions in the standard apply only to healthcare activities, but some of the provisions, particularly the requirements to update the Exposure Control Plan and to keep a sharps injury log, will apply to non-healthcare as well as healthcare activities.
Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens from accidental sharps injuries in healthcare and other occupational settings continues to be a serious problem. If congress, with the help of health care lobbyist’s, felt that a modification to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard was appropriate (29 CFR 1910.1030) to set forth in greater detail OSHA's requirement for employers to identify, evaluate, and implement safer medical devices, that means that we as heath care providers need to take the issue just as serious. The Act also mandated additional requirements for maintaining a sharps injury log and for the involvement of non-managerial healthcare workers in evaluating and choosing devices.
As an employer, we are required to maintain a log of occupational injuries and illnesses under 29 CFR 1904, we must also establish and maintain a sharps injury log for recording percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps. The Sharps Log must contain, at a minimum, information about the injury, the type and brand of device involved in the injury (if known), the department or work area where the exposure occurred, and an explanation of how the incident occurred. The log must be recorded and maintained in such a manner so as to protect the confidentiality of the injured employee (e.g., removal of personal identifiers). Making sure that we educate all personal to the regulations and protocols of the facility should be mandatory and the lack of educating is not an excuse for noncompliance.
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies to all employers with employees who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), regardless of how many workers are employed. However, workplaces with 10 or fewer employees are exempt from OSHA recordkeeping requirements and are also exempt from recording and maintaining a Sharps Injury Log. (See 29 CFR 1904 for applicability of recordkeeping requirements). All other applicable provisions of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard still apply.
The standards that are set forth by the Needlestick Safety and Protection Act requires the annual consideration and implementation of appropriate engineering controls and solicitation of non-managerial healthcare workers in evaluating and choosing devices.
There are many resources available for employers and employees with regard to occupational exposure to blood pathogens and potentially infectious materials. First, of course, is the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). You may access this information, as well as information from OSHA's Consultation and State Plan State Offices via OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also have several documents related to the prevention of occupational exposure to blood and OPIM.
The areas that need special attention to the improvement of safety techniques is: improved sharp safety in surgical settings, understand and reduce exposure risks in non-hospital settings (which include physicians’ offices, clinics, home healthcare, and an array of other settings), involve frontline workers in the selection of safety devices, address gaps in available safety devices, and encourage innovative designs and technology, and enhance worker education and training.
Needlestick injuries are preventable and should not be tolerated in any health care setting. We, as health care providers and health care organizations, are charged with ensuring safety and preventing harm to patients and employees. Employees need to hold the organization for which they work, accountable for following the law and refuse any less. In return, the organization needs to hold its employees to the same high standards of practice in order to maintain a safe environment.
Sources:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-106publ430/html/PLAW-106publ430.htm
http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Work-Environment/SafeNeedles/Joint-Release-Sharps-Injury-Prevention.pdf
Pedagogy's "Bloodborne Pathogens" class is focused on staff safety and protecting health care workers. OSHA the Occupation Safety and Health Administration is a government agency that sets strict guidelines for the management of toxic and hazardous materials. Any organization or employee that has a potential for exposure to blood or other potentially infections materials are required to follow OSHA guidelines to minimize transmission of infection due to exposure to a bloodborne pathogen.
This online education course will review the definitions of bloodborne pathogens, transmission, bloodborne illnesses, and the effective means of prevention of transmission of diseases that may be caused by bloodborne pathogens. Employers must be familiar with the requirements of OSHA in providing and implementing an Exposure Control Plan and setting infection control practices to prevent and reduce the spread of infection in health care settings.
To learn more about the classes that Pedagogy offers click the link below.
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IGG
Many nurses are somewhat familiar with IVIG, IV gammaglobulin. These infusions have been around for decades, although the actual products have changed through the years, and are still changing. Some of these changes have occurred due to improvements in purification processes and some have been the result of research and experience that taught us the hazards of certain preservatives on kidney function and side effect profiles. |
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However, fewer nurses are familiar with gammaglobulin administered subcutaneously. This is a great way for patients to self administer gammaglobulin, decreasing the cost, preventing lost work time and, in many cases, decreasing side effects and providing more stable IgG levels with resultant decrease in infection rates. It’s important to note that the subcutaneous route is only approved for immunodeficiency diagnoses. There are an increasing number of diagnoses for which IVIG is FDA approved. These include several types of neuropathies, the most recent of which is MMN, Multifocal Motor Neuropathy. Other diagnoses, for which IVIG is used, that you may not be familiar with, include Myastenia Gravis and Multiple Sclerosis.
The use of gammaglobulin has become so prevalent that a new nursing specialty certification exam and credentials are in the works. Although you may not choose to pursue a nursing specialty related to this class of drugs, becoming well versed in its uses and methods of administration can provide you with expanded opportunities for employment, whether full-time in an infusion clinic or home care, or per visit work to supplement your primary job; it can be very lucrative. Believe it or not, nurses knowledgeable in IVIG and SCIG are fairly hard to come by and in demand. Pedagogy provides you with all of the knowledge you need to enter this exciting field.
Pedagogy, and author Pamela Clark, has your up-to-date IGG (Gamma Globulin) education. Our 1.5 hr course is accredited for professional continuing education.
This instructional course has been designed to provide current conceptual and operational knowledge to the licensed nurse interested in the provision of gamma globulin therapy. The understanding and use of gamma globulin has evolved since its entry into mainstream healthcare. For both the RN and LPN/LVN involved in providing this therapy, this course contains current practices for best patient outcomes.
Upon completion of this course, “All About Gamma Globulin”, the participant should be able to: names at least three conditions for which gamma globulin is indicated, demonstrate understanding of gamma globulin administration by recognizing the steps involved in its preparation and infusion, and recognize at least two side effects of gamma globulin infusion.
Pamela Clark, CRNI, is a Nurse Manager for Accredo, a leader in specialty pharmacy care. She has more than 28 years of experience in infusion therapy and infusion education with both licensed nurses and patients. Her experience spans multiple infusion settings including: acute care, long-term care, home infusion, and ambulatory infusion care. She also has experience in oncology and oncology research. Please visit Pedagogy to see all of the valuable health care education that she offers here at Pedagogy.
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Blog Posts
Many nurses are somewhat familiar with IVIG, IV gammaglobulin. These infusions have been around for decades...
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Featured Author: Kevin Stansbury
Kevin Stansbury
MBA, BS, RN, VA-BC
Kevin Stansbury, MBA, BS, RN, VA-BC, is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years experience in the medical field including critical care, emergency medicine, and infusion therapy. He is currently living and working in the Central Valley of California. Kevin is a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as a combat medic and nurse. He received several military decorations during his tours in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, including an Army Achievement Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, and the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal. Kevin also received his Expert Field Medical Badge while serving two tours in Korea.
Kevin is currently working as a registered nurse in the emergency room as well as working for Central Valley Medical. He is also a clinical instructor for IV Therapy, Basic Life Support (CPR), and EKG's. Kevin currently serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Infusion Nursing. He is a current member of the Infusion Nurses Society (INS), the Association for Vascular Access (AVA), and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA.) He is also a sitting member on the board for the local network of AVA in the Central Valley also known as (CVAN).
Kevin has authored serveral Pedagogy courses. Click on each course name below to learn more:
"Advanced Airway Management for Nursing"
"Blood and Body Fluid Spill Management"
"Bloodborne Pathogens"
"EKG Recognition"
"Hazard Communication"
"Intraosseous Access Devices"
"Moderate Sedation"
"Workplace Harassment" |
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