Have you ever accidentally stuck a patient...

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Has anyone here acidentally stuck a patient with a dirty needle? What did you do? What happened?

Thank you for your reply.

luvmy2angels

755 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics. Has 22 years experience.

No, I can't say that I have but that must be very scary!! I would assume that if this did happen that whoever did it told thier supervisor?? An incedent report would need to be filled out and the pt would need to be scheduled for testing for HIV and Hep etc., sometimes people are put on meds as a pre-cautionary measure. Also I'm sure there would have to be some sort of disciplinary action taken against the nurse, that seems like a very serious accident to me.

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

153 Articles; 21,231 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU. Has 31 years experience.

No, not me. However, I guess I would wonder what procedure was in place to prevent this.

mom23RN

259 Posts

Nope. Just myself. :uhoh3:

nursepenny

94 Posts

Why would you have a dirty needle in another patient's room? :nono:

We use safety needles at my hospital and we have sharp containers in every room...so why would you take a dirty needle from one pts room to another? Sorry just trying to understand:uhoh21:

Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport. Has 8 years experience.

How do you stick a pt. with a dirty needle that isn't theirs? That's a pretty big safety issue, IMO. Are there not enough needle boxes? Are your needles safety needles?

HyperRNRachel

483 Posts

I cant understand how this could happen. Unless I'm starting an IV, all dirty needles go immediately to the sharps box.

Some areas do not have sharps boxes available in patient areas ....such as

psych units.

HeartsOpenWide, RN

2 Articles; 2,889 Posts

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

No, never. I do not understand how this could even happen. All our needles are "lure-lock" when you are done you pull the plastic tubing up and it covers the needle. ALL of the syringes we use have them, even the needles from drawing blood have the flip top that snaps over the needle. After I give an injection or draw blood the needle goes straight into the sharps. I just don't get how any one could accidentally stick some one with a dirty needle...there is just no excuse.

Hoozdo, ADN

1,555 Posts

Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections. Has 15 years experience.
No, never. I do not understand how this could even happen. All our needles are "lure-lock" when you are done you pull the plastic tubing up and it covers the needle. ALL of the syringes we use have them, even the needles from drawing blood have the flip top that snaps over the needle. After I give an injection or draw blood the needle goes straight into the sharps. I just don't get how any one could accidentally stick some one with a dirty needle...there is just no excuse.

Well, once I needle stuck myself while drawing up a vial of Procrit into a syringe. If I would have injected into the patient that would have been a dirty needle stick. :nono: Instead I wasted the whole vial which pharmacy wasn't too pleased about.

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