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What's New

ANA's Needlestick Prevention Guide [PDF file]
Take the Needle Stick Safety and Prevention CE
Note: The development of this ISM was supported by funds through an OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant and is offered free of charge.

Facts About Needlesticks and Bloodborne Pathogens

Needlestick Injury Fact Sheet

ANA's Safe Needles Save Lives campaign brochure : read here to learn what ANA is doing and what you can do to fight for a safer workplace

ANA's Bloodborne Pathogens brochure

ANA Position Statements

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

ANA Presents Testimonies

Statement of Karen Daley, MPH, RN, Massachusett Nurses Association President, on behalf of the American Nurses Association before the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Committee on Education and the Workforce, June 22, 2000.

"The Needlestick Prevention Act Of 1999" - ANA Testimony before the Committee on Human Services, District of Columbia City Council, May 31, 2000.

Legislation

2001 State Legislation
2000 State Legislation
Text of Bill (H.R. 5178) Became public law on 11/6/2000
1999 State Legislation
1999 Federal Legislation: Health Care Worker Needlestick Prevention Act of 1999

Articles

New Hepatitis Drug Significantly More Effective - Two studies sponsored by drug company Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., found that with modifications, it's interferon drug, Roferon-A, can be made significantly more effective for treatment of hepatitis C. This variation of Roferon-A, named Pagasys, should improve treatment for the 4 million Americans with hepatitis, many of whom are nurses who became exposed to the virus through needlestick injuries.

Results of Hoffmann-La Roche's studies are available in the 12/07/00 New England Journal of Medicine.

ANA was actively involved in advocating for the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act which was signed into law this November. The Act is designed to protect health care workers from the 800,000 needlesticks injuries which occur annually and puts workers at risk for blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C.

(Source: Compiled from Associated Press and Reuters wire reports.)

From The American Nurse:

New Federal Measure Protects nurses from Needlesticks (November/December, 2000)
Preventing Needlesticks (May/June, 2000)
When Workplace Threats Become Reality (May/June, 1999)
MNA President Uses Personal Story to Push for Needlestick Legislation May/June 1999

From The American Journal of Nursing:

Know Your Rights: Ensuring your employer. s compliance with federal needlestick law (March, 2001)
You've Been Stuck: What do you do? (March, 2001)
A Victory for Nurses: Needlestick prevention legislation is passed by Congress and signed into law (December, 2000)
Don't Get Stuck with Unsafe Needles: Instead, get involved in needle device selection (October, 2000)
Preventing Needlesticks in Your Facility (February, 2000)
Needlestick Legislation (July, 1999)
Preventing Needlestick Injuries (January, 1999)
The Epidemic Hazards of Nursing (November, 1998)
Nearly 400 Hospitals Commit to Safer Needle Devices (November/December 1997)

From Nurses.com

Federal Needlestick Legislation Introduced (May 28, 1999)

Press Releases and Statements

ANA and RNs Nationwide Celebrate Law Aimed at Saving Nurses' Lives A federal measure takes effect today that will potentially save the lives of thousands of nurses and other front-line health care workers each year by protecting them from dangerous needlestick injuries, according to the American Nurses Association (ANA). (April 18, 2001)

American Nurses Association Celebrates Signing of Needlestick Prevention Law Leaders of the American Nurses Association (ANA) praised President Clinton and Vice President Gore for their support of groundbreaking legislation that will protect nurses and other health care workers from needlestick injuries. ANA President Mary E. Foley, MS, RN, and Massachusetts Nurses Association President Karen Daley, MPH, RN, who became an outspoken proponent of such legislation after she contracted HIV and hepatitis C from a needlestick, joined President Clinton for the bill signing ceremony in the Oval Office this morning. (November 6, 2000)

ANA Celebrates Senate Passage of Needlestick Preventionm Legislation After a long campaign to educate the public and lawmakers by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and its constituent member associations, nurses today celebrate the passage of needlestick prevention legislation in the U.S. Congress. Today the Senate unanimously voted to pass H.R. 5178/S.3067, the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Members of the House approved this legislation on Oct. 4th. (10/26/00)

ANA Applauds Introduction of New Needlestick Prevention Legislation The American Nurses Association (ANA) applauded introduction of new legislation providing for needlestick protections under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and commended the strong bipartisan cooperation on Capitol Hill that has moved the issue forward in recent weeks. ANA Press Release (September 15, 2000)

Fighting to Save Nurses Lives. ANA Urges Congress to Pass Needlestick Prevention Legislation (June 19, 2000)

ANA's "Safe Needles Save Lives" Campaign Scores Important Victory With Release of New OSHA Directive (November 17, 1999)

ANA Urges Congress to Pass New Needlestick and Sharps Injury Prevention Act (May 20, 1999)

ANA Statement on Introduction of Needlestick and Sharps Injury Prevention Act (May 20, 1999)

Write a Letter!

Resources

From the ANA: