Body Fluid Exposure

[Shantony]

Has anyone had a near or actual exposure to body fluid? By needlestick or splash?

I'm working my way through school and I had a low risk exposure. I was giving a bedbath to a known AIDS patient (unbeknownst to me because I never worked with the patient before and the person rang before report) and the patient was covered with diarrhea and the polluted water splashed up in my eye. I ripped off my glove and began flushing the eye. Then I exited the wing (Any one with an respiratory/contagious diseases are placed in an isolation wing which has negative air pressure and that is where I was assigned). Anyhow I went to the ED, filled out the reports, got checked, had eye my eyeflushed again with saline, and was placed on antivirals for 4 weeks.

This has effected me a bit. I am a nursing student. I have a passion for nursing but I dont want to die taking care of people. I'm not scared to go back on the wing because I'd rather know what someone has than not know but i just dont want to keep second guessing myself or cause myself more risk because I'm scared of contracting something. The ED nurses tell me that it is usually to have something like this happen about once every 4 years or so. Now my husband and I have to have protected sex for 6 months and I have to be tested for HIV in 3 months and then 6 months. I wanted a little support or encouraging words or some good advice or just to know I'm not the only one.

[jccarolina]

My thoughts and prayers are with you and I support you with your feelings and fears. The people here are so friendly and supportive, they are ALL great people. I will contact you later. God Bless You!!

[CountrifiedRN]

I believe that anyone who does pt care has the same fears that you describe. No matter how careful you are, something can still happen. I have had some close calls, like finding a needle that was left sticking in a mattress, or spotting an overflowing sharps container just before my hand came into contact with it.

I really feel for your situation, and I am glad that you got immediate care for the exposure. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, and I will pray that you continue to test negative.

[Forevermomof5]

I worked as a CNA in a hospital for a while and I was exposed to Meningitis. The patient (a rather obnoxious lowlife) was supposed to be coming out of isolation. I was helping her around and taking care of her when her IV came out, no big deal. Well if she was supposed to be over it, I'm not sure why got Meningitis.

It was so scary. I was in the hospital myself for 5 days. Although I didn't have to pay for it, my pharmacy bill was over $5,000. It really opened my eyes to contagious diseases. I know how you feel only you must be a million times more nervous with the extreme seriousness of AIDS.

I'm sure everything is going to work out just fine. Just look at it as a little bump in the road of life. Good luck and keep us updated!:kiss

[Lisa2902]

My heart goes out to you. I truely hope that everything turns out okay. I have never personally been stuck but as a student surgical tech I had a tremendous fear of needles. Once I had gained my confidence I was okay working with needles. I knew a girl who got stuck while she was pregnant. I could not even imagine how she must have felt or what was going through her mind. Thank God that every thing turned out okay and she and baby were alright.

[Shantony]

I'm finding that my husband is having trouble with this too. He wants me to enter a "safe" career.