What's your exposure control plan? UPDATE!

[joy09]

I am glad to be able to share with you my experience.

Briefly, I will fill you in. I had an insulin needle stick on May 9. I was told by the school administration that they would not approach the parent to have the student tested for blood borne pathogens panel. They had much to say about hippa, the risks I assume for my chosen profession, the fact that the student wasn't aggressive like a biter (biters have been tested in other school districts). It was a low risk student but you know it could have been a multipierced, IV drug user.

Despite the advice of the district's solicitor to not speak with the parent, administrators continued to look into this and found that there was a law passed in my state in 2001 requiring public employee workplaces to have an exposure policy. It is very detailed and includes identifying and pursuing testing of the patient. The administrator did call the mother and she said she would do whatever she needed to do to cooperate. The school will pay for it if she goes to a provider. So, I feel rather than being a trouble maker, I have saved future staff the agony of not knowing if a high risk patient is positive for hep B or HIV. This will change the recommended plan of care if results are obtained within 7 days. Antivirals risks may outweigh the benefits in low risk patients. Also, a lot of people aren't converting the first time around with hep B immunizations. They would be given immunoglobin.

The only unrest I feel is having emailed a union official because I wanted someone present with me if I was going to hear there would be no request for testing and they wouldn't put it in writing. I outlined the situation and how it would effect staff and why it needs to be followed up and put into policy. I don't want anyone else to have to convince admin. to do the right thing in the future. I may not even be there next year so I want to assure follow through. I did right this before I had the second round with the administration. I don't think I should just accept it worked out for me.

Lots of schools have a policy on how to protect yourself from exposure, but not what to do in the event of an exposure. Check it out now, heaven forbid you or a staff member needs to know in the future.