Dirty needle stick anyone???!!!!!

Published Mar 16, 2006

238 Posts

I am second quarter LPN student and I got my first needle stick today:uhoh21: I was using all of the necessary precautions but it still happened. What a scrarry, rough, and emotional day. I was doing a SQ of insulin and went to close the safety lid and my finger slipped up right across the needle tip. I milked it real good and cleaned it with an alcohol swab. The hospital I am doing my clinicals at filled out an incident report and told me to go to ER to have my blood drawn. They tested me and my client for HIV and Hep A,B, and C. I was a little nervous but I know the chances are not high with SQ's. The test came back that my client doesn't have HIV and I will know if he has Hep on Tuesday. I found out that my school does not offer insurance and will not cover the blood draw or the tests and the hospital I am at will not cover ANYTHING. I have to pay for the ER bill, the HIV test and HEP titers. I have no insurance.They gave me no options ahead of time. I thought they were only following protocol. Had I known I had to pay, I would certainly not have gone to the ER. :madface: That totally stinks. I thank God that everything has turned out so far but I can't afford the bill for the hospital at this point in my life. Thanks for letting me vent.