Needle stick injury

[Blueorchid]

Never one to do things halfway- the second night off orientation I manage to stick myself with a 21 G butterfly needle. I was drawing an ABG on a patient that required multiple measures of sedation- he'd had Haldol, Ativan, and I'd been watching my Precedex gtt with a tech at the bedside holding his leg as a final safety measure. Of course the first two times I feel the pulse and he doesn't move- we're short on staff that night so when the tech is called for a transport I look at prioritizing and give him the chance to leave...the guy hasn't been moving right?

Wrong!

Third time's the charm. I'd gone into the skin, pulled back to the point that the needle tip was just under the skin when this guy kicks his foot straight up and I fall forward to catch myself. The needle goes back through his skin and nicks mine. (And I was wearing gloves!) I'd never drawn a flash- I bled the wound as soon as I saw it and washed my hands multiple times before talking to my charge nurse.

Blood has been drawn, consent was given, and so far I know he's HIV negative. But the guy has been incarcerated multiple times before and has lots of tattoos. I get to find the results for Hep C on Monday but I already feel like he's high risk. Any ideas on whether or not they would encourage me to take the meds anyways?

This is terrible. Everyone on my floor who found out has been super nice. I've even talked with someone who took meds for a HIV positive patient and she's offered to help if I need it. But I think the worst part is the waiting. I called my boyfriend at 8 this morning and burst into tears at a coffee shop when it all finally hit me. I'm really easy at thinking worst case scenario. He's HIV negative but I could still convert...and the guy has a lot of risk factors but I know I don't know anything for sure. And I haven't told my parents yet because I want to wait till Monday, I know how they get and I don't want my mom to go around lamenting that her daughter's going to die- they have enough on their plates as is. Needless to say it sucks.

Support would be greatly appreciated and any advice/opinions as well. Thanks.

[sethmctenn]

What a relief you must be feeling! Congrats!

[chocolateheals]

That is great news for you. I see this thread is fairly recent, too. I just came home after starting my morning with a needlestick. This patient is already known to have hep C. Mine was after I gave the pt. SQ insulin. I immediately washed, bled, bled some more. Somehow I got 2 stix on my finger, I don't know what the heck I was doing! Not sure if it was a thru and thru. I went to our ER right away, and so far I know the source is HIV neg. Like you, I'll be calling employee health on Monday. After I got back to my floor from the ER, I re-grouped, and my life flashed before my eyes. I told myself I won't worry until I hear results. Have heard about multiple stix on my floor, all of them with + source infections, and NONE of the nurses contracted diseases. Still, I am so worried right now. That's why I came here to see what others had to say! Glad to hear that you are safe and sound. Here's to us trying to be safe with the rest of our needles!

[BonewaxRN]

So sorry that it happened to you, too, chocolateheals. The statistics are in your favor, the odds of transmission are lower than you might fear. There's a link to an article that breaks it down, I will try to find it for you.

Demylinated linked to it on the first page, here it is again: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/disea..._injuries.html)

[chocolateheals]

Thanks for the encouragement BonewaxRN. That was very helpful at the time. It's been almost 6 months now, and all my tests have been negative. I'm just putting it out there in case other people are reading this who are scared about a recent stick. Keep your chin up!

[9lives]

Scary! I can't believe that happened. Thank you for sharing!