Standard Precautions: Blood and Body Fluids; Occupational Sharps Injury and Exposure to Blood Incidence, Causes and Prevention
| Course Id | REG113 |
| Course Name | Standard Precautions: Blood and Body Fluids; Occupational Sharps Injury and Exposure to Blood Incidence, Causes and Prevention |
| Course Catagory | JCAHO Recommended and OSHA Required |
| Course Price | 13.95 |
| Course CEU | 1 |
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- Discuss the incidence and epidemiology of occupational sharps injuries and blood or body fluid exposures among respiratory therapists and other health care personnel.
- Explain the rationale, evolution, and core components of Standard Precautions as they apply to respiratory care practice.
- Identify the bloodborne pathogens of greatest occupational concern and describe the transmission risk associated with percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposure to each.
- Describe the routes and mechanisms by which respiratory therapists are exposed to blood and body fluids during procedures such as arterial blood gas sampling, suctioning, airway management, and resuscitation.
- Identify the device-related, procedural, environmental, and human factors that contribute to percutaneous injury.
- Describe the characteristics of effective personal protective equipment and select appropriate barrier protection for common respiratory care tasks.
- Discuss engineering controls, including safety-engineered sharps devices and blunt or needleless alternatives, and their place in the hierarchy of controls.
- Describe safe work practices for the handling, hands-free transfer, and disposal of sharps.
- Outline the steps of post-exposure management, including immediate first aid, reporting, medical evaluation, and prophylaxis.
- Discuss the regulatory framework and the organizational and team-based strategies that build and sustain a culture of safety.