Leveraging Partnerships to Reduce Insulin Needlestick Injuries: Nurse-Led System-Wide Quality Improvement Project

Percutaneous injuries from needlesticks are a major occupational hazard for nurses. LOCAL PROBLEM: Reducing subcutaneous insulin-related needlestick injuries was part of a nurse-led comprehensive sharps injury-reduction program at an integrated, not-for-profit health system. METHODS: The incident rate of needlestick injuries was compared between 1 year before and 1 year after introducing this quality improvement project. INTERVENTIONS: A system-wide educational program instituting changes in subcutaneous insulin administration practices was combined with supply chain standardization using a single type of safety-engineered insulin syringe. RESULTS: The average monthly incidence of needlestick injuries per 10 000 subcutaneous insulin injections fell significantly from year to year (incidence rate ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.80; Poisson regression P = .004). One-year cost savings for supplies totaled $3500; additional annual median savings were $24 875 (2019 US dollars) in estimated costs of needlestick injuries averted. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of this multifaceted project provides a practical template to reduce subcutaneous insulin-related needlestick injuries.