Survey of syringe and needle safety among student registered nurse anesthetists: are we making any progress?

Anesthesia providers serve a vital role in preventing the transmission of disease by following safe injection practices, yet violations of these standards have occurred. The goal of this study was to determine the extent of unsafe injection practices that exist among student anesthesia providers. An online survey containing 8 yes-no questions that assessed injection practices as outlined by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists was sent to student registered nurse anesthetists with at least 3 months' clinical experience. Three hundred twenty-five students completed the survey. Results showed that 14 (approximately 4%) have administered medications from the same syringe to multiple patients, 59 (18%) have reused a needle on the same patient, 266 (82%) have refilled used syringes, and 2 (0.6%) have reused infusion sets for more than 1 patient. Furthermore, 71 (22%) have reused a syringe or needle to withdraw medication from a multidose vial, and 160 (49%) have reentered a single-use medication vial to prepare doses for multiple patients. Students also were asked to report their experiences with nurse anesthetists who engaged in these practices. The results demonstrate that additional education on injection safety must take place to improve practice, increase patient safety, and reduce healthcare costs.