Two Nurses Share

OVER THE PAST DECADE, HEALTHCARE facilities across the U.S. have been transitioning to safety-engineered needle devices—a process that rapidly accelerated after the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act was passed in November 2000. Two nurses who have spearheaded safety device implementation at their facilities shared their experience with us: Pam Gill, RN, BSN, the HIV/HBV Prevention Nurse at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville, North Carolina; and Diane Riggert, RN, MPH, COHNS, manager of occupational health services for Childrens’ Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Iredell Memorial Hospital is a locally owned, not-for-profit, 247-bed acute-care hospital providing a variety of inpatient and outpatient services. Seattle Children’s Hospital is a 200-bed teaching and research facility and the only regional pediatric referral center in a four-state area. Pam has worked at Iredell Memorial for 18 years (prior to her current position, she worked in intensive care and nursing education). Diane has been at Seattle Children’s for 11 years.