Which practice is discouraged when using safety needle devices?

Sharing needles between different patients is discouraged because it presents a significant risk of transmitting infections, including bloodborne pathogens like HIV and Hepatitis. Each needle should be used for a single patient only to maintain strict hygiene and safety standards. The use of safety needle devices is designed to minimize the risk of needle-stick injuries and maintain a sterile environment, making it crucial to ensure that needles remain patient-specific.

The other practices, such as using safety needles for all needle-related procedures, properly disposing of safety devices, and prepping needle devices before use, are either acceptable or important for maintaining safety and hygiene. Proper disposal, in particular, is critical to ensuring that used needles do not pose a hazard to healthcare workers or the community. Therefore, it's essential to uphold best practices in the use of safety devices while strictly adhering to policies that prevent the sharing of needles across patients.