Has anyone ever been careless and gotten stuck?

Nurses General Nursing

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Has anyone ever not been paying attention and gotten stuck with a needle? I am starting pre nursing this fall. I want to be a nurse, but getting stuck with a needle is unacceptable to me. If it's about rushing, I won't do that. It's not our fault the hospital doesn't want to hire enough RNs to keep the place going. We can do as much as we can, but I am not going to rush and be "unsafe" What if any things can I do to ENSURE that this does not happen. Thank You very much.

Josh

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I've known people who have gotten stuck. They rushed .. I refuse to rush with sharps.

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Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

I don't know there is anything that can ENSURE no needle sticks.

I got stuck once, when I put a syringe/needle in a needle box. Someone had put one in with the needle pointing out, which I couldn't see, and I jammed it into my thumb. Not my fault. Another time I was starting an IV, the pt jumped just as I stuck and the needle went into my finger. Not anything I could have done. I guess I'm just saying that no matter how careful we are, sometimes stuff just "happens". Take all precautions you can and do the best you can.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I put an IV in someone and she moved and yanked it out. I put a new one in and dumped the introducer needle with the rest of my waste on the bedside table so I could tape it down quickly. I then grabbed all the trash to throw it out- including the needle. When I watched the blood pool under my glove it struck me what happened. I felt stupid. First and only needle stick.

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I don't know there is anything that can ENSURE no needle sticks.

I got stuck once, when I put a syringe/needle in a needle box. Someone had put one in with the needle pointing out, which I couldn't see, and I jammed it into my thumb. Not my fault. Another time I was starting an IV, the pt jumped just as I stuck and the needle went into my finger. Not anything I could have done. I guess I'm just saying that no matter how careful we are, sometimes stuff just "happens". Take all precautions you can and do the best you can.

Hi, I think I may not have expressed myself the way I wanted to. I know it wasn't you fault. However, would you say that there are some folks that just aren't paying attention like they should and are working to fast? I know in your situation, it just happened as an accident, though. I know your a smart gal :)

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I put an IV in someone and she moved and yanked it out. I put a new one in and dumped the introducer needle with the rest of my waste on the bedside table so I could tape it down quickly. I then grabbed all the trash to throw it out- including the needle. When I watched the blood pool under my glove it struck me what happened. I felt stupid. First and only needle stick.

Im bugging out just thinking about it. Not throwing any blame, but looking back on it, is there anything you could/would have done differently? I expect your a very competent nurse! I know mistakes happen, but I guess we just need to learn from those, rite? :)

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Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

YeP :) I've seen nurses stick themselves hurrying as well, so I agree with you that hurrying is not good! I remember the good old days of using needles in IV tubing and know of nurses who stuck needles thru the tubing and into their finger. The funniest one I know of, the nurse did a fingerstick, the pt hit the nurses hand, the lancet flew up in the air and came down on the nurses forearm, drawing blood!! LOL

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I was talking to my mother, and she said that they are using all kinds of safety needles now and what not. Is this true? LOL, I just dont wanna get stuck with a needle. I don't mind cleaning up puke or wiping a highknee, but my goodness, there has to be a line hehe..I like your avatar by the way.. It's adorable..

YeP :) I've seen nurses stick themselves hurrying as well, so I agree with you that hurrying is not good! I remember the good old days of using needles in IV tubing and know of nurses who stuck needles thru the tubing and into their finger. The funniest one I know of, the nurse did a fingerstick, the pt hit the nurses hand, the lancet flew up in the air and came down on the nurses forearm, drawing blood!! LOL
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Specializes in Emergency.

Something else to consider. Blood and body fluid exposures can happen in all sorts of ways, not necessarily needle sticks. I, for example am now in the process of post exposure testing and have never been stuck.

It is a risk with the profession. There are, of course, things we can do to reduce our risk. PPE, safety needles (and yes, every needle I insert into a patient has some type of safety on it) and not rushing are all good; however, there is no way to guarantee that you will never be exposed.

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Specializes in Ortho, School Nursing, Med/Surg.

I am not sure rushing has anything to do with it. I have gotten stuck once with an insuling pen needle. I was taking the needle off and my finger slipped and poked me with the needle, but I wasn't rushing. We are human and mistakes are going to happen. On that note... maybe you should look into nursing a little bit more. I am more worried about throwing my back out when pulling up patients or patients pulling on me than I am worried about getting a needle stick. There is also urine, bowel movements, blood, drainage.... so on and so forth. There is a lot to worry about with nursing and needle sticks is just the beginning. Use your head and your skills and you should be ok! Good Luck

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I am not sure rushing has anything to do with it. I have gotten stuck once with an insuling pen needle. I was taking the needle off and my finger slipped and poked me with the needle but I wasn't rushing. We are human and mistakes are going to happen. On that note... maybe you should look into nursing a little bit more. I am more worried about throwing my back out when pulling up patients or patients pulling on me than I am worried about getting a needle stick. There is also urine, bowel movements, blood, drainage.... so on and so forth. There is a lot to worry about with nursing and needle sticks is just the beginning. Use your head and your skills and you should be ok! Good Luck[/quote']

Agreed.

You are going to run a risk of getting in contact with bodily fluids. But with the right PPE you should be good. Mistakes happen though.

If you have some type of susceptibility to illness maybe you need to reconsider your career choice.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Stay in nursing long enough, and you will eventually be exposed to someone else's bodily fluids. For that matter, venture outside your house often enough and it will happen. It's not worth structuring your life around the avoidance of ALL risk - you do the best you can can go on. At least, I do.

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