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. 2002 Jul;92(7):1115-9.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.7.1115.

Effects of hospital staffing and organizational climate on needlestick injuries to nurses

Sean P Clarke  1 , Douglas M Sloane, Linda H Aiken
Affiliations

Effects of hospital staffing and organizational climate on needlestick injuries to nurses

Sean P Clarke et al. Am J Public Health. 2002 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: This study determined the effects of nurse staffing and nursing organization on the likelihood of needlestick injuries in hospital nurses.

Methods: We analyzed retrospective data from 732 and prospective data from 960 nurses on needlestick exposures and near misses over different 1-month periods in 1990 and 1991. Staffing levels and survey data about working climate and risk factors for needlestick injuries were collected on 40 units in 20 hospitals.

Results: Nurses from units with low staffing and poor organizational climates were generally twice as likely as nurses on well-staffed and better-organized units to report risk factors, needlestick injuries, and near misses.

Conclusions: Staffing and organizational climate influence hospital nurses' likelihood of sustaining needlestick injuries. Remedying problems with understaffing, inadequate administrative support, and poor morale could reduce needlestick injuries.

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References

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