accidental fingerstick

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am so worried.

I was giving an injection to my patient when I accidentaly struck myself with the needle after injecting the patient.

He has MRSA (which after reading about it, says its everywhere skin, blood)

I made an incident report but I am so worried I will get sepsis.

He also has cancer, pneumonia. Im worried about the mrsa. Should my employer offer me something?

sorry meant to say needlestick not fingerstick

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
That is a very small gauge needle.....I know it's hard, but I would not worry about it too much.

Seriously? I'm thinking that you must be joking with this post. And if you are joking (just so you know), this is not a joking matter.

Since when does the gauge of the needle matter in a needlestick protocol? Do you suppose for a moment (with your CRNA education) that an HIV prion could not be lodged in a small-gauge needle?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

you people are freaking me out with hiv prions

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

You don't need to freak out...you just need to take all precautions. My post was meant to point out that the needle gauge is irrelevant (which a CRNA should already know). The risk is the same, no matter the gauge of the stick.

Do not worry about HIPAA @ this point. Take care of yourself and take all preventive meds available.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

? How can she pay for those expensive meds with no insurance? Its sounds like the administrator is trying to cya (cover her on ass). if you well documented the incident get a lawyer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hey sorry about the stick but your boss is trying to back you down and cover her butt she thinks you are young and don't know any better but lucky for you you do what if that co worker did'nt say anything to you this is your life what is wrong with this lady and if it is your pt and you are talking to another health care provider about your pt health how is that a hipaa violation

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No same guy. Same guy with MRSA and CA.

You posted the same question a couple weeks ago and got some pretty good answers. Why are you posting the same question again? Have you not learned anything from your last needle stick injury?

accidental fingerstick - Nursing for Nurses

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

Same injury, same patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in behavioral health.

I think that this was one stick. I believe that she posted last week and this is the same incident. I believe that she is very distressed over this, since she lost her job. I don't think there were two separate needlesticks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Belle Epoque I think it is the same stick she said this happened 12 days ago so it's one stick not 2 I think

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

Bit of a knowledge deficit going on here. HIV is not a prion, it's a virus. The western blot is more reliable than the ELISA but the latter gives faster results.

Rather than freak out over misinformation, OP is best advised to consult the CDC for info about testing/infection risk/medication recommendations ... OSHA regarding workplace safety regulation ... and an attorney regarding her specific employment issues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

FWIW, the OP posted on Dec. 3 that she is a new ICU nurse ... now she's posting that she's in LTC. I'm confuzzled ... does OP work two jobs?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Both the ELIZA test and Western Blot are the blood tests used to determine the presence of HIV. The ELIZA is the first test followed by a Western Blot.This is a short segment from the Library of Medicine:

"A positive result on the ELISA screening test does not necessarily mean that the person has HIV infection. There are certain conditions that may lead to a false positive result, such as Lyme disease, syphilis, and lupus.

A positive ELISA test is always followed by a Western blot test. A positive Western blot confirms an HIV infection. A negative Western blot test means the ELISA test was a false positive test. The Western blot test can also be "indeterminate," in which case additional testing is done to clarify the situation."

As for people saying to calm down, you shouldn't let your employer get away with lying to you. I would definitely seek legal advice. I remember from my Micro class that the actual rate of HIV contraction from a needlestick (not to be confused with sharing needles o.O) is quite low--around 2%. I think that is why people are saying you shouldn't worry too much. If it were me however, that 2% would drive me nuts, I would do all the tests available.

Good luck!

ELISA/Western blot tests for HIV: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment