In 1989 - a month into Renee Gould's employment as nurse at University Hospitals - a small injury from a lancet resulted in a year of testing for HIV and other diseases.

"It was very scary. You worry about your own health and your significant other's health. Depending on what you get, it could be a death sentence," Gould said.

Although she was fortunate to escape infection, Gould said the stress and scare of the experience made a deep impression and changed the course of her career.

"Who would have thought a needle stick injury would put me on this career track?" said Gould, who is now an advanced practice nurse responsible for quality and safety improvements at the hospital.

Over the years, she has become the unofficial expert on needle stick safety and has been responsible for implementing 12 new safety products.

Gould said staff members initially were resistant because new products often require a change in technique. However, she said staff members now are eager to learn and try new products.

Finding the best products for needle stick injuries creates a safer workplace for not only nurses and doctors, but also patients, Gould said.

Since her injury 16 years ago, Gould's efforts to promote needle stick safety have included creating a Web site for safety products and speaking to local Rotary clubs and the Iowa Needlestick Study Group about injury prevention.

For her dedication to keeping the work environment safe, Gould received the Improving Your Workplace Award from the University of Iowa in 2001. In 2005, she received the Sharps Injury Prevention Award from the International Sharps Injury Society.

"Having lived through the age of HIV . I feel like anything we can do to keep our employees safe is important," she said.

- Hieu Pham