| MNA-ANA Needlestick Injury Prevention
Conference
November 16 -17, 1999
ANA offering free training for nurses to
evaluate safe needle devices
By: Evelyn I. Bain M Ed, RN, COHN-S,
Associate Director, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist
Needlestick injury prevention has become a
focus of activity for the MNA and the Congress on Health and
Safety. As the Congress formed, late in 1998, priorities were
set for topics to address. Congress members quickly identified
the need for needlestick injury prevention education. About
that time, it was learned that the American Nurses Association
(ANA) was introducing a needlestick injury prevention campaign
SAFE NEEDLES SAVE LIVES at the national level, including
plans for training nurses to evaluate the effectiveness of
injury prevention devices. We are fortunate to be able to
combine the efforts of both groups here in Massachusetts for
the upcoming November program.
Early in 1999, the MNA Department of Legislation
drafted and filed "An Act Relative to Needlestick Injury Prevention,
MA99HRB 969". This legislation will require facilities to
utilize safer devices to reduce injuries, to train and educate
workers relative to needlestick injury prevention and to increase
worker participation in Hepatitis B immunization programs.
Following the introduction of the legislation,
the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) convened
a Needlestick Advisory Group to address the regulations required
by this legislation. At least 15 agencies, associations and
departments within DPH are attending weekly meetings this
summer to prepare the regulations. MNA Executive Director,
Mary Manning and Associate Director, Evie Bain, chair sub-committees
planning educational and surveillance components of the regulations.
Gloria Craven, Director and Stacey Ober, Associate Director,
of the MNA Department of Legislation and Congress on Health
and Safety members Gail Lenehan, and Liz O'Connor are active
participants in the devices and surveillance sub-committees.
Joan Garrity, former member of the Congress on Health and
Safety is serving on the education sub-committee. MNA members
are well represented in the process.
To prepare MNA members and others to advocate
for safer devices, evaluate the effectiveness of products
and prepare to implement needlestick safety programs, a
Needlestick Injury Prevention Conference,
will be held on
November 16 and 17, 1999 at
Lombardo's in Randolph, MA.
Click here for directions.
The conference will provide MNA members and
others an opportunity to become more familiar with the extent
of the injury problem, the disease process related to exposures,
appropriate interventions to prevent infections, how to institute
a safe device program and aspects associated with evaluating
the effectiveness of specific devices.
The full day program on November 16, sponsored
by MNA, is open to all members and others who are interested
in needlestick and sharps injury prevention. Susan Wilburn,
MPH, RN, Occupational Safety and Health Specialist at the
ANA will present opening remarks addressing the magnitude
of needlestick injuries and other work related injuries frontline
healthcare workers, including nurses. Diseases related to
needlestick injuries and bloodborne pathogens exposure, specifically
Hepatitis C, the CDC protocol for post exposure prophylaxis
and needlestick injury prevention programs will complete the
day's offerings.
The program fee for November 16,
1999 is
$ 95.00 for members and $ 135.00 for all others.
Contact Hours have been applied for through the
MNA which is accredited as a provider of continuing education
in nursing by the ANA's Credentialing Center's Commission on
Accreditation.
ANA will sponsor the program on November 17, 1999. This day
long program is limited to thirty participants. The program
will address not only systematic ways for frontline healthcare
workers to evaluate and select safer sharps, but will also
discuss methods for nurses to identify needs for new technology.
There is no charge for the November 17, 1999 program, but
participants must attend on November 16 to be eligible to
attend on November 17.
The November 17 program is the result of the work of Susan
Wilburn and June Fisher, MD, Occupational Health Physician
from San Francisco. Dr. Fisher is the inspiration and founder
of the Training for the Development of Innovative Control
Technology (TDICT ) project, a comprehensive program that
brought nurses, engineers and product designers together to
develop safer devices using the skills and knowledge of each
discipline. This innovative approach identifies workplace
constraints in the initial phase of product design and development.
The traditional approach is to "return to the drawing boards"
to redesign products after their limitations have been discovered.
This project is unique in utilizing nurses' needs and knowledge
in the design process.
The first 30 people who register for November 16, who indicate
an interest in attending on November 17, will be accepted
to participate.
For more information or early registration call Evie Bain
at MNA 781.821.4625 x776 or e-mail Evie at eviebain@mnarn.org
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