Had an exposure yesterday

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I try to be really careful but walked into an emergent situation to assist another nurse with her patient. Patient was trached, desatting, combative and would not allow her to suction. I was asked to help restrain the patient for suctioning. They were in fetal position when I walked in and I didn't know this patient at all. I threw on a gown and mask and approached the patient. As I rolled them over they coughed frank red blood from their trach onto my face. I felt some hit my eye. Ugh.

Washed out my eyes, went to oc health, they are going to test the patient and test me. I'm fully vaccinated and good titres but you never know. I have to wait two weeks to see if the patient is clean or not. I've already had MRSA exposure in my eyes a year ago and was fine, but blood in the eyes is another ballgame.

Would love to hear your exposure stories and hopefully happy outcomes while I wait.

[gaonsi]

I'm sorry. I was filling an bag syringe once and blood splashed on my face. I panicked, I cried, I slapped myself on the forehead over and over for being "careless". It happens. Wait for the results. Mine came back negative. I hope yours do too. One of the few scary things we as health care professional endure and risk. Good luck!

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry. I was filling an bag syringe once and blood splashed on my face. I panicked, I cried, I slapped myself on the forehead over and over for being "careless". It happens. Wait for the results. Mine came back negative. I hope yours do too. One of the few scary things we as health care professional endure and risk. Good luck!

I'm glad you were okay . . . I keep wishing I had worn the full face shield but this was such an unusual and urgent situation. Had no idea what I was walking into. Makes me think I should get a pair of clear eyeglasses to wear at all times at work. The other nurse was saved by her eyeglasses.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

I was emptying a foley bag right before shift change when the tubing from the drain popped and I got bloody urine in my eye. I was so embarrassed I didn't tell the patient. He found out when they came to draw him for Hep. He apologized to the phlebotomist because he was a nice man who felt really bad. I washed my eye for 10 minutes (worst ten minutes ever) and then all the labs came back negative. Worry won't get you anywhere so I would just put off thinking about it until you get results :)

Tait

[julz68]

Years ago when I was an aide in a LTC facility, I was helping a 98 y/o lady in her bathroom. She stood up when she was done and I bent down to pull up her underwear...she wasn't done and proceeded to pee on the floor and it splashed in my eye. She had bladder cancer so her urine was bloody..not bright red, kinda looked like chocolate milk..(ick) ...anyway, I had to get my eye washed for a good ten minutes and then had that dye put in so they could check things out. Turned out that I had tiny burns but nothing too significant. They just gave me ABX eye gtts to use for 10 days. They also tested the lol for any diseases and all came back neg.

Don't know if any of you remember the TV show 'Magnum P.I.' but for a long time afterwards, my coworkers called me by my last name & P.I. (pee eye) ha!

[Tait, MSN, RN]

Years ago when I was an aide in a LTC facility, I was helping a 98 y/o lady in her bathroom. She stood up when she was done and I bent down to pull up her underwear...she wasn't done and proceeded to pee on the floor and it splashed in my eye. She had bladder cancer so her urine was bloody..not bright red, kinda looked like chocolate milk..(ick) ...anyway, I had to get my eye washed for a good ten minutes and then had that dye put in so they could check things out. Turned out that I had tiny burns but nothing too significant. They just gave me ABX eye gtts to use for 10 days. They also tested the lol for any diseases and all came back neg.

Don't know if any of you remember the TV show 'Magnum P.I.' but for a long time afterwards, my coworkers called me by my last name & P.I. (pee eye) ha!

Liked for the PI LOL!

[Lizzly]

The patient stood up as the nurse bent down is never a good combination when the nurse's face is close to a patient's butt. Glad all the test came back negative. These stores about nurses putting themselves in danger are frightening. Once my dog had a sore on his neck with infection oozing out of it. Everything I put medicine on his neck, he shook swinging medicine and infection all over the house. One night he shook, medicine and junk from the sore hit me in the face. I washed my face, lips, everything with a soapy wash rag.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

I have abnormal tear ducts and must be very very careful not to touch my face at work and I often have to massage the ducts to get them to drain properly. I was starting an IV on a pediatric patient with CF she coughed right in my eye. I got the worst Pseudomonas infection and was po abx and multiple eye drops for 1 mo. I wear my goggles all the time now because I have had too many of these infections.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

Well the patient's test came back negative so that's a relief, and mine did too. Of course my test was done the day of the exposure so my negative doesn't mean anything. Will do two more follow up tests to make sure it's all good. And, I always have a pair of protective eyewear in my pocket now! Any time I don't know what I'm walking into I will put them on.

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Several years ago I was in a big hurry because the guy was crashing, hurrying through the last blood cultures, and stuck myself in the hand with the large bore needle thats covered by the rubber part of the butterfly set (was in too much of a hurry to put the blue safety device on it, so stupid). The guy said he was negative for HepC and HIV, but turned out positive for HepC and he didn't know it.

I turned out negative on all testing since then (thank you Lord) and I don't draw blood that way any longer. It taught me to take my time and put my safety first.

[windyspring]

The night before last I had blood exposure into two small cuts into my hand. Patient has a lot of issues but previous MRSA in her blood. My DON witnessed it and I also informed her but her response was for me to "wash it out. Get it checked if you want but you probably won't find anything". So I finished my shift (another 8hrs with no break) and called my doctor in the morning. They told me to come into ER (that I should have come much sooner) and had my blood tested and washed out the cuts. I send the DON/ADON a message in the morning stating that I would not be returning to work. I feel so blown off and mistreated. I'm a new nurse (this is my first job) and she made me feel dumb for my concern only to learn that it was legitimate!