i got a needle stick today need prayer

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Well, I was orientating in ICU at a prison today. Been there for over a month on the ward and have been a nurse for years. Well, one of the other nurses asked for help with help because she knew this guy was a hard stick. She asked me to hold the vactube and feed the blood in thru the butterfly. I was holding the vactube when she initially stuck the guy. She was n for less than a second and didn't like where she was at so she pulled it out and restuck him....with the same needle. Well the second stick resulted in the same results she she got fed up and yanked the butterfly out of him, pulling my hand and making me lose hold of the vactube. As I am letting it go, she jabs the needle down hitting my right thumb. The inmate is hep c pos. I started milking the thumb, cleansed it with bleach and peroxide and soap, did everything else I was supposed to do notified boss, ect. Now its starting to hit me. CID nurse said protected sex with husband for min 6 months and so on. Please be with me and pray that God is with me. Thank you.

Also, u have any stories?

Dear Texas LVN,

Consider yourself in my prayers. You had the knowledge to act fast and that is in your favor. Take every precaution to protect yourself when assisting others. Hope all turns out well.

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, CCRN-CSC.

Prayers sent your way. I can imagine how scary that is.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, SICU, MICU.

God is with us. We are angels and he works through us. He knows our hearts and he shall protect his army! Stay prayerful. You will be okay :bow:

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Not a forum for medical advise but CALL YOUR PCP NOW!!! not later today. A dose of immunoglobulin may be helpful if given in the first 48hrs. There may be other treatment options that I am unaware of-I'm not a doc. I wouldn't take the word of the employee health nurse. Consider this- the cost of treating with gamma globulin et. al. may be $500-$1000, the chances of getting H.C. from the stick is 1:1000 (I'm don't know- I'm guessing). Wouldn't ya think the policy of the institution would lean toward-wait and see rather than treat aggressive. I am not offering medical advise- I just want you to make sure all your options have been explored. On the brighter side the chances of picking up ANYTHING from a needle stick are pretty low. Yes it can happen, but I wouldn't cancel your vacation plans for fear you will have a hepatitis tan already. As far as "save sex", reasonable precaution. I'm supprised my wife dosen't insist on it all the time with all I'm exposed to as a nurse.

I agree to call your PCP ASAP if you haven't already. Good advice.

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Specializes in LTC & Correctional Nursing.

i am so sorry that this happened to you! i will keep you in my prayers. best of luck and god bless!:heartbeat

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.

Thank you all. My computer is broke and I am writing from my blackberry currently otherwise I would thank u all individually. Because of this forum I have decided to write a journal and be able to look back on it. I claim that He protects His army. I love that and I feel the prayers all day. Thank you thank you thank you. I have tears in my eyes just knowing that I could come here and know I have all this support. I appreciate u all.

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Not a forum for medical advise but CALL YOUR PCP NOW!!! not later today. A dose of immunoglobulin may be helpful if given in the first 48hrs. There may be other treatment options that I am unaware of-I'm not a doc. I wouldn't take the word of the employee health nurse. Consider this- the cost of treating with gamma globulin et. al. may be $500-$1000, the chances of getting H.C. from the stick is 1:1000 (I'm don't know- I'm guessing). Wouldn't ya think the policy of the institution would lean toward-wait and see rather than treat aggressive. I am not offering medical advise- I just want you to make sure all your options have been explored. On the brighter side the chances of picking up ANYTHING from a needle stick are pretty low. Yes it can happen, but I wouldn't cancel your vacation plans for fear you will have a hepatitis tan already. As far as "save sex", reasonable precaution. I'm supprised my wife dosen't insist on it all the time with all I'm exposed to as a nurse.

Not to belittle PCP's, but I would guess that 90% of them don't know anything about post exposure prophylaxis. If you need to see someone I would recommend a hepatologist or infectious disease specialist who treats a lot of HCV. Gamma globulin has no role in HCV PEP. For PEP guidelines please see the CDC guidelines:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5011a3.htm

For the full guidelines look here:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_occupational.html

To the OP it sounds like you are doing everything that you need to do. The chance of seroconverting from an HCV needlestick is less than 1:50 from a needlestick. More information can be found here(towards the bottom):

http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DISEASES/HEPATITIS/c/faq.htm#1h

The only place that I deviate from the CDC guidelines is in testing. In our practice we use HCV RNA testing every month starting at 4 weeks for six months. There is good evidence that interferon monotherapy has a greater than 90% success rate (although this remains controversial).

With thoughts and prayer

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I really do feel for you and hope it all works out.

As for that other nurse her practice was completely dangerous. I hope for your sake and others that you report her unsafe practices. Absolutely no excuse whatsoever for putting a team member at risk like that. :(

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Will be praying for you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.

Relieved 2 have actual statistics especially from CDC. Thank u and I am continuing 2 feel ur prayers. Thank you.

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Specializes in LTC.

I know you're scared but we're all thinking about you and keeping you in our prayers. :redbeathe

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