SAFETY OF NURSES
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Filiz Öğçe, IUE Faculty of Health Sciences, Head of Department of Nursing, and President of Turkish Perioperative Nurses Association, pointed out that nurses were exposed to injuries caused by sharp objects. Öğçe stated that European Perioperative Nurses Day would be celebrated this year on February 18 at Izmir University of Economics Conference Hall with a scientific and social themed meeting, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Dilek Çakır Umar, Vice President of the Association, Prof. Dr. Meryem Yavuz, Head of Perioperative Nursing of Ege University, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Özlem Yıldırım would be delivering opening speeches at this special event.
Öğçe also stated that Dr. Özge Dikkaya Göknur, Lecturer at IUE Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Fashion and Textile Design, would be making a presentation titled, “Kırmızı-‐Beyaz: Türkiye'de Gelinliğin Evrimi (Red-‐White: Evolution of Wedding Gown in Turkey)”, and Dr. Çağrıhan Erkan, Lecturer at Ege University, Turkish Music State Conservatory would be performing a piano recital called, “Seslenişin Ötesi (Beyond Calling Out)”.
‘Nurses are under Risk’
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Öğçe stated that this year’s theme has been identified as “Sharps Safety Begins with You”, and she said that work related injuries of health employees were often under acknowledged. Öğçe stated the following:
"Sharp objects are medical or laboratory equipment which may cause percutaneous injuries. Needle sticks and other sharps-related injuries which expose workers to bloodborne pathogens continue to be a significant hazard for hospital employees. More than 20 bloodborne pathogens including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), are transmitted through contaminated needles and syringes, or by cuts from scalpels or other sharp instruments while in use or afterwards. Nurses, doctors, and lab employees are more exposed to the risk compared to other work groups, and risk of injury increases even more for operative and emergency unit employees."
‘Solution Depends on Education and Attention’
Öğçe indicated that there were almost one million cases of sharps related injuries in Europe each year, and she said that health employees needed to be trained on safe surgical training, and that the injuries were not a twist of fate, and they would be prevented to a great deal with education and attention.
