The Hindu : New Delhi News : Call for safe work places for nurses

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Call for safe work places for nurses

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Nurses account for 44 per cent of health care workers who are victims of needle stick injuries and are more likely to be involved in a needle injury than other hospital employees, say medical experts.

Now Indian Medical Association (Delhi), Heart Care Foundation and other organisations have come together to appeal to all health care set-ups to make effective and definite policies to safeguard the interest of nurses and other health care workers.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi Medical Health Officer, N. K. Yadav, said though most reported needle stick injuries involve nursing staff, other laboratory staff, physicians, hospital housekeepers and other health care workers are also at risk.

Stating that following universal precautions was mandatory while using needles, Apollo Hospital HIV expert Nalin Nag said needle stick injuries occur during various hospital procedures.

"Most needle stick injuries occur after the device has been used and therefore exposed to potentially contaminated blood. Fifty per cent of the injuries occur between the time the procedure is completed and disposal of the devices; 20 per cent are associated with disposal of the device," said Dr. Nag.

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