ED nurse faces big decision after needle stick

I got the chills reading this. I too was stuck with a needle, fortunately, it was a clean stick, it was a wake up call to say it could happen anytime. Now when I'm using needles, after any injection my eye NEVER leaves the sight of the needle until it enters that sharps container.

i can understand and respect the er nurse's decision.
i just don't know if i would be as pragmatic.

i do believe it will work out for her.

leslie

"As the ink dried on the paperwork, the employee health nurse prepared supplies for the first of six blood tests to which I would submit at prescribed intervals over the next year (three so far have all been negative). I expect not to feel out of the woods until the six-month test comes out clean, but I don’t worry."

Does she not recall that just because a 6-month test comes back negative, it doesn't mean she's in the clear for life? I've seen a person get negative results for years & then on a final test (just prior to retirement), the test came back positive. At the time, we (military-CG) were being tested every 5 yrs; now it is every 2 yrs.

I think I would risk the being ill for weeks than to have the 'what if' lingering in the back of my mind for years. What a difficult position to be in. Hope all works out for her.

Wow.... I honestly am not sure I understand her decision. I'd want to do everything I could after a stick to prevent becoming infected with HIV. 0.3% adds up to 100% for me. I'd take a few months of being sick over a lifetime of HIV.

I have had 2 needle sticks. First, when I was a new grad in a hospital. A doc came to the bedside and put a line in the patient and left, sharps were left all over the room and in the process of cleaning everything up, I got stuck. He got reprimanded and lucky for me it was on a little old man who was negative for everything. The 2nd, I was helping someone get an ABG on a prisoner who had just been picked up on prostitution and drug charges. She was intubated and on propofol, but When I stuck her she jumped up FAST and the needle came out her arm and down into my finger. I was *horrified*, she also tested clean for everything. So far, I test clean for everything as well, but its SCARY getting stuck!!! My job is not worth my life!!

I had my first needle stick in 23 years of nursing just 2 months ago. Unfortunatey it was a hematology patient and the needle was the stylet of a malfunctioning IV catheter (stupid Intimas). The patient tested clean but I was not offered follow-up testing or prophylactic medication. I think I will always have a nagging worry in the back of my mind that someday I will pop positive and could have had it prevented if given the chance. Not a nice thing to have to live with. Needless to say I refuse to use those type of catheters again and my hospital is getting rid of them.

The only needle stick I ever had was with a subQ lidocaine needle when a dialysis pt moved his arm; although assured that the risk was extremely low, I opted for anti-HIV PEP with antiretrovirals (Combivir, I think). I tolerated it very well and would have even continued taking it beyond the week until the pt's b/w came back negative and I was advised to stop.

I would do the same again; a few days or weeks of (possible) discomfort is not worth the worry otherwise!

DeLana

I was stuck once while preparing to give a heparin shot. It was clean but all the wake-up call I needed.

Now, nothing gets in the way of that needle point and my attention.

I religiously do the following:

1. After a procedure, to the doc/nurse/whoever, loudly and clearly; "Have you accounted for each and every sharp?"

2. Before a stick I ask myself: "Is there any possibility this patient will move/startle?" If so, get help or no stick.

3. Until I get to the needle box, if others in room, I announce; "I've got a needle and I'm about to move."

If no one's in the room, I place 100% concentration on the walk to the needle box.

Sorry but I would have had the PEP. It sounds horrendous but better safe than sorry.

I respect her decision though, I just don't understand it.