My first needle stick today... :(

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in NICU.

So it happened today... Oh soo fast... I feel like such an idiot!

My patient's PICC line wasn't working so I was drawing her labs from her hand. I drew about 2cc and the blood quit coming. Thinking I needed to advance the needle some more I palpated the vein above the needle. As I went to advance some the patient jerked!!! The tip of the needle came up through her skin and poked my index finger.

I almost didn't report it but I knew I would regret it. So far her HIV is negative.. Still waiting on her Hep C. She is a low risk patient and I pray it will be negative. I have to go to "counseling" tomorrow.

Support needed.

Thanks

Tiger

Yeowch (for both of you). I have always wondered if that is a way I could poke myself! Now I know to avoid that particular maneuver. Hope all turns out well for you.

Sorry this happened. Hope everything works out for you. However, just a word of advice/caution: no matter how low risk you think the patient is, ALWAYS report a needle stick. Just because a patient has a squeaky clean image now, doesn't mean that s/he did five years ago. Protect yourself first.

Specializes in NICU.

Yea I'm glad I reported it.

I pray that everything works out ok for you....I am so sorry this happened to you...We all make mistakes and we learn from them.....head up..:)

Specializes in Med/Surg and ANCC RN-BC.

Oh goodness! I'm sorry that happened. I would have been scared to report it as well, but I'm really glad that you did. You are the priority in everything that you do as a nurse! I hope everything comes back negative.

I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago and I was so scared. Thank goodness my blood tests came back negative. I am glad they are taking you seriously, because in my case they thought I was overreacting. My doctor did not see a reason why I needed to be tested for HIV, but I told him I need to and the Health Department wanted me to be also.

I hope things turn out well for you. I've noticed co-workers palpate a vein when a needle is inserted and it scares me.

i feel for you.. i was in your shoes a long time ago (7 years ago). i was on duty & very stressed out when i had my needlestick injury. worst part i couldn't trace the patient's name because it was a random needle (i was disposing needles that time and because i was so stressed and tired i mismanaged to dispose them properly). i got so scared and paranoid and it was like killing me softly mentally and emotionally. what i did, i just prayed so hard, told my husband and parents about it and hid it from others (less stress on my part) and after 6 mos., i got myself tested for HIV and HEP. C and luckily, the result was NEGATIVE. i went to the church and thank God for giving me a second life. i continued to have myself tested for 5 years then i stopped because i was satisfied with the result. the lesson, regardless im tired, i should not be in a hurry and always focused. on your part, i will pray for you that the result will be negative.

My first needle stick was when I was pregnant with my daughter so it was doubly scary. I had just finished giving an older gentleman an IM injection and was withdrawing the needle and he had a seizure and the needle went into my thumb. I was lucky - all my test came back fine.

How not to get stuck.....

Treat a sharp as you would a loaded firearm. Focus your mind (and your eyes) exclusively on it until it is secured.

If someone else shoots you,...well that's another story.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

OP, so sorry you're going through this--needlesticks are scary, but you did the absolute right thing to report it. I stuck myself with a used insulin syringe in January and absolutely freaked--also almost didn't report it. The patient was very low risk, but it is scary no matter what. Just finished 6 months of f/u testing and thank God everything is negative. I'll keep you in my prayers--hang in there!

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