Ever Gotten STUCK w/a Needle???

VivaRN · Nov 28, 2007

Yes. I had 10 patients on the floor, 1 going to CT, 1 going to the OR, pts. having issues, and was rushing through morning meds. I know they tell you never rush, but I was rushing.

After giving a pt. her SQ insulin I spied her IV cath lying on the floor. I was like, what the... and when I bent down to check it out (forgot to recap) stuck myself. It bled.

She was HIV+, which I knew. I saw my life flash before my eyes, and after that I was totally useless. Knew the stats, knew the chance was small, but still cried all the way to the ER. Only time I have ever cried at work.

I think the ER nurse thought I was crazy.

Luckily everything came back negative. I quit that job soon after. Not worth it.

DeLana_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2007

15 gauge needle. removing it after pts dialysis. the tape stuck to me, also to the needle. out comes the needle! my instinct was to stick my thumb over the exit site, which sent the needle into my thumb, at the base of cuticle had to leave (in the middle of turnover) go go to ER for blood draws.

Don't you love those 15 gauges... I treat them like a loaded gun (but have to admit - sheepishly - that I refuse to use the "safety feature" on them 'cause IMO it's dangerous - much of the time, the needle comes out the side!)

I did get one needlestick when the pt moved - with a subq Lidocaine needle. Took anti-HIV meds for a week (no problem), then pt test results were in (neg). I wasn't really worried about it.

DeLana

pfongk · Nov 28, 2007

so far not a used one apart from managing to stab myself with my own needle re-capping it. I did manage to stab my finger screwing on a needle onto an insulin device.

Scrubby · Nov 28, 2007

I've had a few needle stick injuries from sutures. I now make the surgeon cover the tip of the suture with the needleholder or put the suture in a kidney dish. And i double glove for every procedure. I've also been sliced by harmonic shears accidently by a surgeon.

grammyr · Nov 28, 2007

Not a needle stick, but scissors. In the med room, I reached to pick up a clipboard, and underneath it was a pair of open scissors. Of course I got stuck and I was furious.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2007

I have been stuck a few times and they were all clean so far. The most recent one was using a blunt tip needle to puncture some nimodipine ( cannot crush or give IV can only be oral or NG) and stabbed my thumb and bled like crazy. I had to put some pressure on it and that hurt like hell.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Nov 28, 2007

Yep. Numerous clean sticks, and once after giving a patient Depo, and once after drawing blood. Everybody was negative for everything but it does happen and can scare the bejeebers out of you!

alkaleidi · Nov 28, 2007

Luckily enough *bruised fingers crossed*, I have never stuck myself with a dirty needle. I always manage to have my fingers slip or get bumped by someone passing by in a rush and stab myself prior to using them. Most times, for whatever reason I do NOT know, I stick myself through the entire width of my fingertip (in one side and out the other)... SO weird, puncture holes on both sides, with gauze and tape tight so I don't bleed like a pig. I'm paranoid and quick about using safety features, though... giving psych type injections for years does that to you.

aKyRN81 · Nov 28, 2007

Over the years, too many times to count! One of the worst times for getting stuck was before the needleless connections came in..To flush a heplock there were 3 separate needles involved and it was common to stick yourself while holding the little rubber cap for one of the flushes. Also, piggybacks were needled in with the same results!

My most memorable stick happened in home care with a wheelchair bound pt. who needed a blood draw. There was no other way to get it than sit crosslegged on the floor at the foot of the chair. The butterfly slipped out of the pt's arm and stuck itself directly into my knee! We were both tested and all was well, but it does cause a sick feeling until all the testing is done.

I'm sure all the attention now given to safety and needleless systems have improved the odds!!

Valanda · Nov 29, 2007

I only got stuck once. I was unpacking a patients clothing who was a new admit to the LTC facility. She had a used, uncapped insulin syringe mixed up with her clothing in her suitcase. I picked up some of the clothes and got stuck in the back of my hand.

I did find it a little odd that nearly everyone who mentioned being stuck also mentioned having the patient tested. I was told that the patient could not be tested for HIV because I was stuck, and even if she were tested they could not give me the results of her test!

It's been nearly 13 years and all has been well, but sure was scary.