School of Nursing Student Laboratory Safety Packet 2017-2018 2/17 1
NURSING INTRODUCTION: The primary goal of the nursing skills laboratory is to provide an environment for you to become competent in your nursing skill and thinking and becoming a safe practitioner while working towards excellence in nursing. It is the intent of the faculty and administration in the Department of Nursing to provide a safe learning experience for all students. The following safety guidelines are established to provide instructions in maintaining safety for students, staff and faculty while using the nursing laboratory (hereby referred to as lab(s) within the SCCC Department of Nursing and off campus clinical setting. These safety guidelines shall be adhered to by all concerned. The SCCC Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Phillip Sandusky serves as a resource to the Lab Coordinator and lab personnel and is to be consulted as needed with issues related to the safety of the lab. GENERAL GUIDELINES A. All faculty, staff, and students must know and practice the safety guidelines at all times while using the labs. Failure to adhere to general guidelines can result in disciplinary action. This packet will be available electronically on the Nursing Department homepage. Students and participants will be instructed to review the contents upon admission to the clinical component of the curriculum and / or when utilizing the laboratory spaces. B. Following the review, students and participants will be required to sign and date an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF STUDENT RESPONSIBILITES, confirming they understand the policies and procedures of the safety guidelines and an ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND RELEASE FORM, a release of legal rights. Students and participants are to read and understand the assumption of risk and sign. Failure to complete the form, will result in loss of the ability to use the lab. C. All labs are locked unless occupied by faculty and/or students during class and practice. D. Students should at all times practice safe and appropriate techniques while learning and practicing skills in the lab. Standard precautions should be followed at all times. E. Wash hands before starting skill lab time, in between when directed, and at the end of each laboratory period. F. Students should be knowledgeable of the care, handling, and proper use of equipment prior to using it in the lab. G. Students should inform course coordinators, faculty, and lab personnel of pregnancies, physical disabilities, recent injuries, illnesses, surgeries, latex sensitivity/allergy or communicable disease as soon as possible so that necessary precautions may be taken in the lab and clinical setting. A medical clearance from a physician and course instructor(s) may be needed before students with aforementioned concerns will be allowed to participate in clinical experiences. 2
H. Students using labs must sign in and out indicating the time and area of practice. I. No student will practice in labs if they appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. J. Due to safety concerns, no children, visitors, or pets will be permitted in the labs. K. Loose or ragged clothing, dangling neckwear or bracelets shall not be worn around the lab practice area, any moving parts of equipment, or any other area of practice that may have the potential to cause harm. L. Appropriate footwear is recommended when practicing in lab. Wearing of sandals or shoes exposing feet and toes to injuries from falling objects to include but not limited to cuts, bruises, swelling, tenderness, needle punctures, and spills. M. In lab classes, you may be required to wear protective clothing, including, but not limited to, clean nursing uniform, clean scrubs, or a lab jacket. Clothing requirements may be course and/or faculty specific. N. All simulated practice, needles are to be covered with safety needle sheath. Needles and syringes are not to be discarded in trash containers or left out openly on a surface. Needles, sharps and syringes are discarded in a designated red sharps disposal container provided in the labs. O. Needles provided for practice of injections are used in the skills lab only when faculty or lab personnel are present for assistance. P. Student must demonstrate safety precautions while utilizing needles during practice as instructed in class. Any irresponsible use of needles will result in disciplinary actions. Q. If you are accidentally stuck with a needle or your skin comes in contact with contaminated material, you must notify lab personnel immediately. Student will be evaluated, rendered any emergency first aid if needed and will be instructed to go to the Health Services Office for evaluation of condition and documentation of the event. R. If a latex sensitivity or allergy exists or is suspected, please notify your instructor and lab personnel. S. When breaking ampules for practice, students should protect their fingers by using a gauze covering or ampule breaker and should break the ampule in the opposite direction of their face. T. Any IV solutions with expired dates, may be used for practice and demonstration unless obviously contaminated. These fluids are not for internal use, but for practice with manikins only. U. All damaged and/or malfunctioning equipment or manikin must be reported immediately to the lab personnel or faculty. V. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the labs. When taking a break outside the lab, use a waste container provided to dispose of garbage. Hands are washed before and after eating. W. After practicing skills, straighten unit/area to a condition of readiness for the next student user(s). Chairs should be replaced under the tables when leaving the area. X. Pick up any waste materials observed on the floor and place in trash containers. Y. Wipe up all spills on floor. Z. Report any incidents or malfunctions to the lab personnel. 3
LABORATORY SAFETY A. Infection Control 1. Universal precautions will be followed at all times when there is exposure or potential exposure to blood or body fluids. 2. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the laboratory spaces. 3. Gloves are to be worn by students and faculty during any potential contact with blood and body fluids. 4. Due to safety concerns, children, visitors, and pets are not permitted in the labs. 5. There is no access to/or use of pathogens or chemical agents in nursing lab. B. Physical Space Safety 1. All cabinet doors will be closed when not in use. 2. The work spaces, floors, beds and table areas will be kept clean. 3. Any misconduct occurring in the lab will be reported to the course coordinator and Academic Chair. 4. Malfunctioning equipment will be reported to lab personnel. If needed, a work order will be generated to Plant Operations for repairs. Equipment will be taken out of service until repaired or discarded. 5. Laboratory doorways will be accessible at all times. 6. The lab and supplies will not be used to provide medical treatment for students, staff, or faculty. 7. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed in the labs at any time. Injury to unauthorized personnel in the lab will not be considered the responsibility of the Nursing Department. C. Medications and Fluids 1. When breaking glass ampules for practice, students will use gauze covering the ampule or ampule breaker devices. With gloved hands break ampule in the opposite direction of body and face. 2. Placebos (candy pieces, commercially prepared PRACTI-med and water) will be used for simulation of oral/topical medications. Simulated Medications are for practice and are not to be taken orally. 3. IV fluids with expired dates may be used for practice and demonstration only unless obviously contaminated. These fluids are not for internal use, but for practice on manikins only. D. Needle Safety 1. Laboratory personnel will annually review and document the needles and syringes we are using, why we chose these devices, and the safety features of the devices. 2. All drawers will be locked at the end of a lab session and containers, bags, or equipment with needles will also be secured. 3. Needles provided for practice of injection are used in the lab only when the professional assistants or faculty are present for assistance. Students must 4
demonstrate safety precautions while utilizing needles during practice as instructed in class. 4. Needles will not be recapped after use. Used needles are to be disposed of in red Sharps disposal containers provided throughout the lab space. 5. Needles and other sharp objects must not be discarded in the trash or left out openly in the lab at any time. 6. Injection practice will only occur on the manikins or practice injection pads provided in the lab. E. Electrical Safety 1. Wet materials may not be used around electrical outlets or equipment. 2. Faculty and students are responsible for reporting to the appropriate faculty or staff, any frayed electrical cords, cracked plugs, missing outlet covers, etc, as well as any problems encountered while using electrical equipment. 3. Electric beds shall be maintained in the lowest position when not in use. 4. No electrical cords will be left in the pathway of walking traffic. Extension cords will be properly taped to the floor if used over a walkway. 5. Only three-prong plugs, containing a ground wire, should be used to power equipment in the labs. F. Ergonomics 1. Students and faculty will be instructed in principles of body mechanics prior to practice. 2. Student and faculty should use caution when lifting and should not lift equipment, manikins, or other students without assistance. 3. Students practicing lifting techniques will not perform these procedures in a foolish or unsafe manner. Irresponsible behavior will result in a student s dismissal from the lab for practice. 4. The wheels of all equipment (wheelchairs, stretchers and beds) are to be locked during practice and return demonstration. G. Latex Warning 1. Some of the equipment in the nursing labs contain Latex. If a student has a known sensitivity/allergy to latex, please inform the instructor and lab personnel. 2. The veins in the IV arms and lungs of computerized manikins contain latex. Users who suffer from latex allergies should take precautions while using or handling the latex parts by wearing non-latex protective gloves. CLINICAL SAFETY A. Off-campus clinical experiences 1. Students will follow the safety policies of the clinical institutions where they are participating in clinical experiences. 2. In the absence of clinical institution safety policies, students will consult with faculty and/or Course Coordinator prior to performing procedures. 5
INJURY A. Reporting of an injury 1. Any incident occurring in lab or clinical during school hours must be reported immediately to the faculty or lab personnel. 2. A faculty member will assess the student/staff and administer first aid as needed. 3. The faculty/staff/student will call x4047 (Ammerman), x 6709 (Grant), x 2510 (Eastern) or be assisted to Student Health Service Center, appropriate agency or personal physician depending upon the nature of the injury. Campus Security will be called at 3-1-1 to assist as needed with Health Services. 4. If the situation appears to be a medical emergency, dial 9-1-1 to get help immediately. In addition, notify Public Safety of an accident involving injury or illness at 3-1-1. 5. For student, faculty and staff, the following form must be filled out for the reporting and documentation of an injury/incident. a. Incident/Accident Report Form: to report incidences that occur to students/faculty/staff in academic setting CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE LABORATORY AND EQUIPMENT A. It is the responsibility of all those who use the lab for keeping equipment and the physical space clean. B. Gloves are to be worn by personnel using harsh disinfectants to clean the lab. C. Equipment located in the skills lab will be cleaned by lab personnel as needed. The protocol for cleaning equipment is directed by the product manufacturer. Linen on beds will be changed and laundered when soiled, after extensive use, and at the end of a semester. D. The lab equipment will be kept in good working condition. Any faulty or broken equipment should be reported immediately to lab personnel and Department Chair. SHARPS AND BIOHAZARD WASTE DISPOSAL A. Potential infectious wastes are collected, contained, stored, and disposed of according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and SCCC policies. B. Needles/sharps/syringes will not be discarded in trash containers. C. Needles/sharps/syringes are disposed of in a red, hard plastic sharps disposal container with a biohazard symbol on the outside provided in the lab. D. Sharps disposal is handled by a professional disposal service. When Sharps containers are full, an order for pickup of waste will be scheduled. E. The lab personnel will order replacement Sharps container through the vendor of choice. EMERGENCIES A. Fire 1. Alert people in area to evacuate. Follow instructions in SCCC Emergency Guide. 2. Activate nearest fire alarm and call 9-1-1 and Public Safety at 3-1-1. 3. Close doors to confine fire. DO NOT LOCK DOORS. 4. Immediately evacuate to safe area or exit building through stairwell-do not use elevator. 5. Provide emergency personnel with any pertinent information. 6
OTHER EMERGENCIES Refer to the SCCC Emergency Response/Reference Gide booklet. Booklet provides essential phone numbers and how to report a crime. Emergencies included: active shooter/gun/shots fired; bomb threat; fire/smoke; evacuation procedures; hazardous conditions; hazardous materials; mental health emergency; noxious odors; serious injury/accident; sexual assault; shelter/securein-place; suspicious packages; threatening individual; utility emergency. EMERGENCY CONTACTS TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Public Safety Emergency.. 3-1-1 SC Fire/Police/EMS.9-1-1 NON-EMERGENCY PUBLIC SAFETY TELEPHONE NUMBERS: NOTE: If dialing from a campus telephone, use only the last 4 digits Ammerman.631-451-4240 Ammerman Guard Booth...631-451-4242 Eastern...631-548-2690 Grant.. 631-851-6889 Riverhead Center... 631-548-2690 Sayville Center... 631-451-4240 OUTDOOR EMERGENCY TELEPHONES Various outdoor locations on campuses Press Help button for direct connection to Public Safety SAFE HAVEN TELEPHONES Located in each campus building on designated floors- Press Help button for direct connection to Public Safety ADDENDUM: ITEMS IN THE LAB THAT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED TO CONTAIN LATEX Static Manikins Tubing simulating veins Tubing connecting the red pulse bulb to the manikin, for manually generated carotid pulse Nursing Anne Manikin Bags simulating lungs inside manikin chest Tubing simulating veins Sim Mom Tubing simulating veins in IV arm Bags simulating lungs inside manikin chest Sim Man Essential Tubing simulating veins in IV arm Bags simulating lungs inside manikin chest 7
NURSING PROGRAM LIST OF PATHOGENS AND CHEMICAL AGENTS PATHOGENS None Used CHEMICALS None Used 8