Paper I — 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) — Q11
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Paper I
2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) · 100 marks · 180 min
Question
How will you advise a health care worker to avoid needle stick injury while collecting blood from patients.
Q114 marksShort Answers
Answer
Advice to a healthcare worker to avoid needle-stick injury while collecting blood:
Never recap needles by hand — the single most important measure, since recapping is a leading cause of needle-stick injury; if recapping is unavoidable, use a single-handed “scoop” technique or a mechanical recapping device.
Use safety-engineered devices where available — e.g., needles with retractable or self-sheathing safety mechanisms, and vacuum-based blood collection systems that minimize direct needle handling.
Immediately dispose of the used needle/sharp into a puncture-resistant sharps container, located as close as practicable to the point of use — never place used sharps on a tray, bedside table, or in general waste.
Never bend, break, or manually manipulate the used needle before disposal.
Maintain a stable, well-lit work environment and adequate patient positioning/cooperation during venepuncture to minimize sudden movement risk.
Wear gloves during all blood collection procedures (standard precautions), though gloves do not prevent needle-stick injury itself, they reduce the volume of blood transferred if injury occurs.
Never pass a used needle/sharp hand-to-hand between staff members; use a neutral zone/tray for passing sharps if handover is required.
Undergo training in safe phlebotomy technique and sharps-handling protocols, and ensure availability and correct use of sharps containers at every workstation.
Report any needle-stick injury immediately per hospital protocol, for prompt risk assessment and post-exposure prophylaxis if indicated (this is a management-of-injury step, but reinforces the broader safety culture around prevention).
