Water from g-tube splash to face.

[ANH_RN]

First of all, I'm a paranoid freak. I worry about every little thing imaginable.

This morning right before I left work I was giving a pt a pill through his G-tube. I guess maybe I didn't use enough water and it got clogged a little bit. I gave it a little extra push and water splashed all over. I know I got a few drops on my face, may have gotten it in my eyes -- don't know. The pt is MRSA + -- but it was water from the actual syringe (which was a new one btw) and I am kind of freaking out (although the syringe was hooked to the g-tube). I mentioned it to the charge nurse and she shrugged it off. I was thinking about all of the nurses I see who have vomit splash on them, etc. My question is -- should I have filed a report anyways even though it wasn't recommended by my charge nurse?

thank you.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

If it was something you were giving, rather than a patient fluid, I wouldn't bother.

If there's any chance it was a patient bodily fluid, I would absolutely document it.

[shawna_0330]

My nurse manager likes us to file "incident reports" on almost everything. Its best to have in documented just in case. I think you'll be fine and doubt that anything physical will result from it (like I doubt you'll get a MRSA eye infection) but just for the sake of safety document it.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

It's good to file a report to protect yourself. Theoretically, IF you would develop an infection, and you hadn't reported the splash, your employer would not pay for your treatment, whereas they might if you had made a report in writing.

[Tolos]

Document this incidence as already stated and give it to the charge nurse that is lassie faire. You have to cover your ass. We swab a patient's nostrils to test for MRSA if there is a splash into your nasl mucosa, even a drop can grow to a colony. I am equally anxious for you. Sorry!!!!

[WalkieTalkie, RN]

I've had this exact same thing happen to me... pt was hep B and MRSA +. This was when I was a student, and they made me go to employee health. None of it got in my eyes or mouth, just my face. They said I'd be fine (I was, by the way), and sent me back to the floor. The nurse I was with got it in his eye, and he was hep B immune, so they gave him some sort of eye abx as a precaution.

[Gr8Dane]

mmm nurses afraid of a lil bodily fluid

I would never advise not to file a report but I also would say I personally do not file everytime something happens. AS if that was the case I would be considered a huge risk and be fired as a lot of nurses would.

On a side note I get tested yearly for HIV and hepatits as most everyone, especially nurses, should. For reasons of practice of nursing and .... unless your married

Already tested positive for MRSA of nares and did the bactroban treatment and then tested negative, but that was done due to having surgery. Not like I didn't already know I'd test positive for that :)

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

This does not sound like a true body fluid exposure. I would not file an IR over it.

[mytoby12]

Even though this happened in May, go to the Eye Dr. DOnt take a chance. I am sitting here now with MRSA in my eyes from a splash . It is so painful having to put all these drops in every 30 minutes. My eyes are raw from them. I filled out a report but noone did anything despite the patient had MRSA. Just like one of your replies to your post says something about you not getting MRSA of the eyes. YES you can. and it does not take but a drop or two. There is so little research on MRSA of the eyes. Please protect your eyes. My exposure happened while a CNA was turning a patient and the JP drain was stuck in the railing. I was standing by the bed and got exposed. From now on even though we dont have to wear mask in a room with MRSA, only gowns and gloves...if they have any drains, etc, I wear a mask for any reason. Take care and protect yourself.