A safety needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub a needle fixed to the hub, the needle having a distal end formed for insertion into a patient a shield moveable relative to the hub from a first position, where the shield covers the distal end of the needle, to a second position, where the distal end of the needle is exposed and not covered by the shield a first magnetic element fixed to the hub and, a second magnetic element fixed to the shield. The first and second magnetic elements are configured so as to define a repulsive force therebetween which urges the first and second magnetic elements apart. The repulsive force urges the shield towards the first position. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a safety needle assembly may be provided which includes a minimal number of parts, without sacrificing reliability.
