Dirty Needle Stick....

[TsavarenaRN]

I'm in first semester ADN, I just got to do my first few IM injections today during clinical, on my fourth injection I accidentally stuck myself after I had stuck the patient. Of course all of my other classmates knew about it. I felt so ashamed. I had to go to the ER and have blood tests and all the other protocols. Luckily, I was told that I had a very low chance of contracting any bloodbourne illnessess. (won't know for sure for six weeks) But still, I feel so depressed I almost want to quit. I thought I was practicing as safely as possible, but somehow it just seemed unavoidable. It happened before I even knew it. Makes me feel like I'm just not cut out for this. Has this happened to any other student???

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

Interesting about not aspirating....we participated in a flu clinic a few weeks and were instructed to aspirate on each of our clients....hmmmmm....so your instructor apparently is not the only one who didn't know....

[RNfromMN, BSN, RN]

I've only done it once so far. I had just drawn up insulin and accidentally stuck myself when recapping the needle. Obviously, the needle was clean, so I wasn't worried about contracting anything, but my instructor saw me and that was embarrassing enough - I'm sure I would have felt so much worse had the patient and all my classmates seen it, as in your case.

It happens...that's why they specifically teach you and test you on what to do in the case of a needle stick. Please don't let mistakes like this detour you from sticking out the program :)

[MS. ICANDOIT]

Why would anyone be embarrased? We are STUDENTS and that requires learning and mistakes for sure.

My mentor is a surgical RN and was in surgery with and HIV+ patient and decided to wear two pairs of gloves. When she went to put the instruments in the sink she accidentally cut herself through the gloves. She says it happened because she changed the way she practiced and couldn't feel through the water like she normally could. She stressed to me the importance of using the universal precautions we're taught in school, but also that she's been an RN for 15 years and she still makes mistakes. If we aren't learning we aren't growing.