Sharps injuries

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello all,

This is my first post and I am sure this has been discussed but I haven't figured out how to navigate the site just yet.

I start nursing school Aug 22nd and my head is buzzing with questions. One in particular I find very troubling. I spoke with an older nurse who told me that every nurse gets stuck with a needle at some point in their career. I just find this mind boggling. Can I not be careful 100% of the time and avoid this? Anyone have any experience with this?

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
Hello all,

This is my first post and I am sure this has been discussed but I haven't figured out how to navigate the site just yet.

I start nursing school Aug 22nd and my head is buzzing with questions. One in particular I find very troubling. I spoke with an older nurse who told me that every nurse gets stuck with a needle at some point in their career. I just find this mind boggling. Can I not be careful 100% of the time and avoid this? Anyone have any experience with this?

You can be careful but it can happen. My husband was cleaning up one of the rad rooms (He's a retired CT tech) and picked up what he thought was just a paper towel. He got stuck by a dirty needle. (All is well, he tested negative).

A couple of weeks ago, I had a defective needle that I got stuck with when I took off the cap (the cap was pierced and I got stuck when I grabbed the cap). I am not going to say that 100% are going to get stuck but you can be careful and things can happen. Just be very diligent and you will reduce your risk considerably.

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Wow, I wonder how that needle even ended up on the floor(or just lying around). Glad you both are okay though. I guess all I can do is try to be mindful of it.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

In light of the sheer number of sharp things (that can poke or cut you) you will handle as part of our nursing practice, it's very likely that we will get stuck or cut at some point. Careful practice will improve the odds, but not eliminate them entirely. Don't obsess.

I've been stuck a couple of times; once with an out-of-control, but still sterile needle during a code & once by a careless colleague who turned around and accidentally jabbed me on her way to the sharps container. But neither of those events resulted in anything serious.... not like getting my foot run over by a C-arm (major ouch & walking around in a splint for a while) or attempting to "catch" a porky patient before he hit the floor (major bad decision resulting in 2 months of recovery time).

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Good point! This line of work just has its hazards. At some point I'm sure I will learn to mellow out.

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Nursing is surprisingly extremely hazardous.

We do not lead the professions in workplace fatalities but nursing is often cited as one of the most dangerous professions in regards to workplace injury and career ending injuries.

I saw once that nursing was more dangerous than underground mining and heavy construction combined.

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