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Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Hi,

I have a question. I'm really just looking for reassurance I guess. Today, while I was at work I accidently cut myself with the IV spike when I was re-spiking a bag of fluids. The patient had been hooked up to these fluids all day and they were running at 125cc/hr. The IV had stopped due to air in the line...so I unhooked the patient to prime the line and spiked a new bag of fluids and thus cut myself through my glove, I did bleed a little. A slight amount of blood was backed up in the IV line right where it connected to the patient but none no where near the spike. I asked a couple of nurses that I worked with but they said not to worry about it that I was ok. I probably would not give this a second thought except that the patient did have a history of IV drug use.....What do you all think?

K

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You're fine. The spike is not in direct contact with the pt.

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I wouldn't worry. What in the heck are your spikes made of??? I don't think I could cut myself with the ones we use if I tried! I'd be more worried about the pt, becasue technically there could have been a tiny bit of your blood in the tubing after you cut yourself...I doubt it, but there is more of a chance of that than the other way around. But I would report that and ask that they not use tubing with spikes made of razor blades.

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Yup...I second that thought of what your spikes are made of. :chuckle ....We couldnt cut butter with one if we tried......

strange.

Z

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I wouldn't worry. What in the heck are your spikes made of??? I don't think I could cut myself with the ones we use if I tried! I'd be more worried about the pt, becasue technically there could have been a tiny bit of your blood in the tubing after you cut yourself...I doubt it, but there is more of a chance of that than the other way around. But I would report that and ask that they not use tubing with spikes made of razor blades.

Razor blades.........:rotfl: ........too funny .

Z

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Thank you all for your replies. I know when I think rationally that I am ok...but it still concerned me. I'm not exactly sure how I did it either. I didn't think the spikes on the end of our tubes were that sharp. I was having trouble getting the spike into the bag so I jabbed a little harder than usual and accidently hit my knuckle. I think it was the force more than the sharpness. Anyhow thanks for your replies....oh and I changed the tubing before I hooked the patient back up :wink2:

K

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The spike points are very much that sharp! I was spiking a bag once and wasn't careful....went right through the bag and right into my finger.

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

I think you (or the patient) have zero risk from a "disease transmission" standpoint based on this incident.

But, IV spikes are SHARP. As a rule, when discarding finished IV fluids/sets - I always remove (either cut or pull) the spike end from the tubing and toss it in the sharps - and then dispose of the remainder of the set in either the regular trash or biohazard based on any contamination/policy issues.

I'm sure your accident will give others something to remember and be cautious of ... thanks for the reminder.

Practice SAFE! ;)

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But, IV spikes are SHARP. As a rule, when discarding finished IV fluids/sets - I always remove (either cut or pull) the spike end from the tubing and toss it in the sharps

Hey, I like that! I think I'm going to start doing that.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I actually cut myself with one when I was pulling it apart to discard it when I was still a student so I earned a respect for them then. I think we probably should put them in the sharps container, obviously I've had issues with them before.

I think your risk of having been exposed to anything is not measurable.

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I think you (or the patient) have zero risk from a "disease transmission" standpoint based on this incident.

But, IV spikes are SHARP. As a rule, when discarding finished IV fluids/sets - I always remove (either cut or pull) the spike end from the tubing and toss it in the sharps - and then dispose of the remainder of the set in either the regular trash or biohazard based on any contamination/policy issues.

I'm sure your accident will give others something to remember and be cautious of ... thanks for the reminder.

Practice SAFE! ;)

We also treat the spikes as sharps and should be disposed of in the sharps.

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