Needle Stick on myself, Oops

HappyNurse2005, RN · Nov 25, 2005

Did ya feel any effects of hte insulin?

Glad it wasn't serious

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Nov 25, 2005

Please don't flame me you all....but this is truly NOT funny to me !

If you look at the "what if's"....this nurse might be singing a different tune.

It is a serious thing to keep in the back of your mind at all times. It only takes one infected needle stick to change your life forever. Sorry to be the

"party pooper" here...but it is not a laughing matter.. I'm sure there are nurses out there who are now HIV + because of an accidental needle stick.

Your laughter could turn to sorrow real soon. Wake up:angryfire

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2005

Have a great vacation!

I think you're smart enough to realize the seriousness of a needle stick, or you never would have went to the ER. Having a sunny disposition, being thankful is a prior to injecting the patient, learning a lesson and laughing on the other side of it is not a bad thing. IMO

jamieRN · Nov 25, 2005

I'm not flaming anyone, and I do agree needle sticks can be dangerous. However, the chance of a contracting a life altering disease from one needle stick is very low. Yes, there's a chance but it's not as dramatic as I think it's made out to be sometimes. To the orginal poster, accidents happen and if the patient moved suddenly I can completely see how an accident would have happened. Hope you didn't bottom out on your blood sugar though lol.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2005

You did the right thing to report what happened. There actually are a lot of nurses that don't report these little sticks--more so than those that do report it. I just stuck myself the other day with my cat's insulin syringe (before giving her the insulin) because she moved just before I stuck her. Didn't have anyone to report it to, however. Don't think I got any of her insulin (she only gets 2 units of NPH). I was fully prepared to chomp down on some processed sugar treats just in case. :chuckle

My worse needle stick was a through and through of the meaty part of one of my fingers. I dropped a tubex and instinctively grabbed at it, closing my hand around the unit. The needle was pointing up, I bled like a stuck pig, the rest is history. I had just given this IM medication to a patient with hepatitis. I reported it and was tested for a number of months, but never got ill. Don't know if it was because I had the Hepatitis vaccine previously, or if it was just fate.

You ought to tell people that you are descended from that famous character of literature in the Perils of Pauline! Your co-workers are just finding the humor in it as well as are recognizing you for a battle injury. We all get them eventually--needle sticks, whacked by a confused patient, puked on, got blood or poop on our uniform or shoes. :imbar Just makes you part of the group. Nurses tend to find humor in really gross happenings.

RNinRubySlippers, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2005

Please don't flame me you all....but this is truly NOT funny to me !
If you look at the "what if's"....this nurse might be singing a different tune.
It is a serious thing to keep in the back of your mind at all times. It only takes one infected needle stick to change your life forever. Sorry to be the
"party pooper" here...but it is not a laughing matter.. I'm sure there are nurses out there who are now HIV + because of an accidental needle stick.
Your laughter could turn to sorrow real soon. Wake up:angryfire

2 words for ya, Simmer Down. YOu are gonna give yourself a heart attack from being so darn intense. I think the OP is aware of the seriousness and meant no harm whatsoever. Some days I have a real hard time keeping my 2 cents out of comments such as yours. Call it PMS call it what you will!

To the OP: Have a wonderful vacation and cheers to you!

Jerico, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2005

:yeahthat:

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · Nov 27, 2005

The cat story is SO funny cos the same thing happened to me the other day. I have friends who are out of town and had to cover the pet sitter with the insulin shot; she gets 2 units of Lantus. I had already given her shots on 2 other occasions and she's a total b**** kitty about it, so I was prepared for her to fight me; however, this time she was much calmer so my guard was down (and I'm a total cat person so I should have known better; hindsight, eh?). I got the needle and insulin into her but right before I was about to pull out she jerked around and hissed at me, so I jerked back and the needle left scratches on my pinky and ring fingers.

I figured if this is the only needle stick I have to deal with I'm ahead of the game. :rotfl:

Poor Adam...first the GI bug and now this. Not to flame anybody, but I think in this case there's nothing wrong with having a sense of humor about the whole business; we all know (or should, anyway) how potentially serious needle sticks can be and I'm sure you are mucho relieved that it happened before, and not after, it went into another body.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 28, 2005

years ago, i was involved with a code. it had been going on for quite awhile, and everyone was getting rather loopy. the intern looked down at the patient's chest, and started to say "look at thaaaa . . ." before her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out. curious to see what was so shocking, i looked down and saw a hand with a bicarb syringe sticking out of it -- in fact, the bicarb needle went clear through the hand. about that time, i realized it was my hand. and then it started to hurt. i didn't pass out, but man i took some kidding over that! and so did the intern, who had evidently stuck the bicarb needle clear through my hand!

ruby

elthia · Nov 28, 2005

We must be birds of a feather...:chuckle :chuckle

I'm glad that it was a clean needle, but I'm sorry you stuck yourself.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2005

I completely agree that it is a dangerous thing, but why go into mourning over a stick that happened BEFORE the injection on the patient? It would be totally different if the patient had already received the insulin and THEN the nurse was stuck.

To the OP, :idea: Stay out of the ER from now on. :lol2:

Please don't flame me you all....but this is truly NOT funny to me !
If you look at the "what if's"....this nurse might be singing a different tune.
It is a serious thing to keep in the back of your mind at all times. It only takes one infected needle stick to change your life forever. Sorry to be the
"party pooper" here...but it is not a laughing matter.. I'm sure there are nurses out there who are now HIV + because of an accidental needle stick.
Your laughter could turn to sorrow real soon. Wake up:angryfire