Possible Needle stick and I am 22 weeks pregnant

nynursey_ · Jan 4, 2016

I'll throw this out here before anyone else does ..

Per TOS, medical advice cannot be given on this site, and that's the first comment you might get.

If you have any concern whatsoever that your scratch might be r/t reaching in the sharps box, I'd notify someone in your employee health department, and treat it like an accidental exposure. It's better to be over careful than under careful. That way, if it truly is nothing of concern, they'll let you know and you can feel sure that you took the right steps to protect yourself and your baby.

Good luck to you!

lolis55 · Jan 4, 2016

I did notified it today to the Occupational Health Department. They did not think the scratch could be from the sharps bin as I did see/noticed any needle scratching me... but I am still sick worried thinking maybe I did not realized..

Thanks

KMRN81 · Jan 4, 2016

You may have scratched your knuckle on the sharps box itself when prying off the lid. I probably wouldn't ever attempt to open one though, they aren't really meant to be r/t that exact possibility!

lolis55 · Jan 4, 2016

It was not locked, it's a small portable sharps bin. This one:0.6 Litre | Sharpsafe

I hope you're right...

KMRN81 · Jan 5, 2016

Oh, I see what you mean! Different than what I expected! Hopefully it's nothing but a scratch from something else. Easier said than done, but try and relax a little. Whether you were scratched by a needle or something else, it can't be changed. I'm sure you washed your hand as well as you could too! Best of luck to you! :)

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 5, 2016

"If it was caused by a few days old needle, will the virus still be active and capable of infecting?"

Your Occupational Health or Infection Control staff would best be able to answer this.

"I attended Occupational Health today and they did not recommend any course of action."

Possibly because you are not sure if you touched a needle or not. A scratch is present but you alone know if you touched an exposed needle, and from your description you did not.

" I cannot stop worrying."

If you have practiced meticulous hand hygiene; shown common sense by not touching exposed, used needles; and exercised caution in your nursing practice in order to reduce exposure to sharps and disease, then you have done everything humanly possible to keep yourself and your child/family safe.

Please continue to ask medical questions of your Primary Provider, and bring your concerns for exposure to your Occupational Health staff.

I wish you continued good health. :)

AlaBro2010 · Jan 5, 2016

I'll tell you that I worry about scratches all the time on my hands. I WATCH all my needles and I'm still a worry wart. We use paper charts so I'm pretty sure it's from that.

southern rn · Jan 5, 2016

I was stuck with a dirty needle ( from an IV start) when I was about 7 months pregnant many years ago.Nothing bad ever came from it, my son is now 25.I know it's hard but try not to stress.Best wishes for a healthy uneventful pregnancy :)

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jan 5, 2016

" I opened a small portable sharps bin, it was kind of full. I turned the bin a little bit as I was trying to see if my colleague has disposed a syringe. " Why did you feel the need to do that?

There's the real problem. Occupational health has cleared you.

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 5, 2016

" I opened a small portable sharps bin, it was kind of full. I turned the bin a little bit as I was trying to see if my colleague has disposed a syringe. " Why did you feel the need to do that?
There's the real problem. Occupational health has cleared you.

That was exactly what I was about to write. Why were you looking in a sharps bin to see if your colleague had disposed of a syringe?

Julie Reyes, DNP, RN · Jan 5, 2016

fyi--- https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/the-life-you-1028554.html