First needlestick :( :(

[RNcDreams]

I'm disappointed in myself.... I know better.

I was starting an IV with a #22 gauge angiocath, failed (never got a flash), and pulled out the angio and put it on the table- no blood on it. Catheter was never advanced, thus safety mechanism was never engaged.

Started IV with a #20, pulled out sharp, safety device activated, placed on table.

Cleaning up, leaving the room....

Picked up the #22 in my right hand, the sharp from the #20 (safety device engaged), and bumped my right hand into my left and stuck my middle finger through my glove. Took off the glove, saw blood...

washed, squeezed, washed again, lots of soap.

Filled out incident report, had hep and HIV labs drawn, got Pts consent to have HIV lab drawn.

Pt has a negative history for either disease and is a low probability...

but still..

Insight?

Stories?

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm sorry to hear this you must be really worried but try to remember that it was an accident and that statistically its a very slim chance of transmission. As a phlebotomist I never had a needlestick but one of the other students in my phlebotomy class did (she didn't follow proper technique and was very careless) and had a stick. She ended up being fine but if she wasn't screwing around then it wouldn't have happened (although I know that many needlesticks are just accidents not from improper technique or carelessness) I will say though that if I was stuck (no matter how low risk) I would demand that I get the full treatment (HIV, Hept. B & C etc.) because otherwise I would be really freaked out.

!Chris

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

I had a needle stick too in my second semester of nursing school. It is a very scary situation, but it has made me even more careful. So look at the positive, you'll be more careful in the future.

[suanna]

If you work around patients long enough, even with good precautions, odds are you are going to get an occasional needle/sharps stick. The only thing I can offer is that the incidence of picking up a life threatining illness from a needle stick is very, very low. You have a better chance of picking up an illness via some othe vector- emisis, sputum, stool... Make sure your Hep vaccine is up to date, use caution always, and try not to let it make you nuts- you are in more at risk driving your car to work than you are working with sharps.

[RNKPCE]

I am sorry to hear of your needle stick.

I always looks at what can be done to prevent this from happening again. I have found that if I try an IV with either an angiocath or catholon and can't get in, I can still withdraw the needle first which engages the safety device and then pull the catheter out.

[jeepgirl, LPN, NP]

i've had one before...

it can be very scary.

all was well for me too.. just follow up. it sucked for me because i was getting married and i had this huge worry cloud.

take care.