needle prick

My first question is what is a nursing school doing reusing needles? Depending on what else the needle was used for, you might be exposed to pathogens that may cause an infection. I would report the incident to the instructor/nursing school and monitor the area for signs or symptoms of local infection.

Your school should have a needlestick policy in place. All needlesticks NEED to be reported. Until you know for a fact that you have not picked up anything use a condom.

AirforceRN: it's common practice to be given a syringe and a needle and to reuse a needle to practice drawing up sterile saline and then assaulting that poor orange or fake arm.

I guess so...but it doesn't make much sense. Needles are dirt cheap, way cheaper than a course of antibiotics. Plus, by asking students to reuse needles, you are asking them to recap...which is just asking for trouble. The syringe reuse I can understand but needles is just stupid.
On another note...I would say the chances of the dummy arm having an sti is pretty slim.

Ok...I have to ask.

How can you pick up something that can be transmitted by sex from a DUMMY that is being injected.

The OP never said a single thing about the needle being inside of a person.

My nursing school does the same thing. For labs, we are given needles...they are expired technically non-sterile needles from area hospitals that save them for the nursing schools, as they have not been used on a person.

Yes, we reuse these over and over again to practice skills labs.

I see nothing wrong with it, because it's not like the dummy is going to complain that the needle isn't sharp enough and that the injection hurt.

Would you go out and get extensive testing if you were stuck by a sewing needle?

Of course you wouldn't. They sure as heck aren't sterile.

If she was only pricked by the needle, then I think it's safe to say she doesn't have staph...which would be her biggest concern for ANYONE that has a skin break, regardless of what caused it.

The reportable needle stick injuries in the health care setting are when the needle stick is either from an unknown use or one that has entered another person. If you get a prick from a needle that was lying around somewhere it shouldn't have been (eg, med cart, garbage), that would be considered one that had an unknown use.

The reportable needle stick injuries usually relate to the risk of developing hepatitis or HIV (those communicable through bodily fluid/blood). It does not seem that your case of a needle stick fits this criteria; therefore, it would not qualify as a one that would need to have bloodwork and preventative treatment.

Now, that does not mean that you should not have an up to date tetanus booster or watch for an infection. But, those are just normal things for any type of a 'cut' and not considered under the 'needlestick' guidelines.