Position Statement: Infection Control Precautions

ISSUE

The Emergency Nurse is at high risk for contracting infection from the transmission of emerging new pathogens, including blood-borne (airborne and droplet). This is due to contact with multiple patients and the generally undiagnosed health problems that present to the emergency department.

NENA POSITION

NENA endorses CNA Policy Statement, (1993), "Blood-borne Pathogens", and believes Emergency Nurses have the responsibility to comply with policies and procedures requiring the use of universal precautions and body fluid precautions.

NENA believes that Emergency Nurses have a professional obligation to observe standard precautions and other appropriate infection control procedures when providing direct patient care. Adhering to universal precautions helps to protect patients, nurses and others from accidental exposure and infection.

NENA endorses continuous quality improvement and encourages agencies to accept the 1995 draft recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, and to develop policies using empiric precautions. These precautions use a blending of universal precautions and body substance isolation, preventing the transmission of pathogens from undiagnosed patients.

NENA believes empiric precautions prevent transmission of pathogens from blood-borne, contact, airborne and droplet sources. It also protects the patient as well as the nurse from transmission of those pathogens.

NENA believes vaccination with Hepatitis B is the most effective means to avoid transmission of that virus and must be offered to all Emergency Nurses.

NENA believes health care facilities must provide education and protective equipment and establish guidelines and protocols for the emergency department.

RATIONALE

Emergency Nurses work in an area in which little or no health information about the patient is available. The use of universal precautions will assist in protecting the nurse from all known sources of potential infections.

References

Canadian Nurses Association, CNA's Policy Statement, Blood borne Pathogens, Nov 1993.

Center of Disease Control (CDC), Take empiric precautions with potential pathogens, Hospital Infection Control, Jan.1995. (Draft)

Danis, D. RN, MS, CEN; Halm, K. Threat of emerging infectious diseases; The MMWR File, Journal of Emergency Nursing, Vol. 20 (6), pp. 570-2

Dixon, C. BA; Bertrand, C. BsN; McLean, A. Peter H. MD; Tousignant, P. MD; Groome, P. BFA, Another View to Blood and Body Substance Precaution: 1988-91. Canadian Journal of Infectious Control, Feb 1992.

Evans, Gary. Change is the constant, Supplement to Hospital Infection Control, 1994