I stuck myself with a gluclose monitor

[Ashleynic31]

Hi I stuck myself with a gluclose monitor and now I'm worried about hep b and hep c what are the risk I can contract those viruses from the gluclose needlestick?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Welcome to Allnurses.com! I'm sorry this happened to you.

Since glucose monitors (a.k.a. glucometers) are not sharp, I assume you mean that you stuck yourself with the lancet that is used for finger sticks. Is that correct?

If you have not yet done so, your first step is to report this incident to your workplace supervisor. You will also want to see your doctor. Good luck to you.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Dumb question, but was it a used lancet?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Dumb question, but was it a used lancet?

I was wondering the same thing. Most workplaces have the safety lancets that retract after having been used once. The old fashioned multi-use lancets still exist, but I only see them used in home settings and/or sold at pharmacies.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I was wondering the same thing. Most workplaces have the safety lancets that retract after having been used once. The old fashioned multi-use lancets still exist, but I only see them used in home settings and/or sold at pharmacies.

Yeah, I've never seen the non-safety ones in a hospital setting.

[firstinfamily, RN]

You need to complete an incident report at your work facility and usually this should be done within 24 hours. This incident is not to punish you, just to start a trail in case you do become sick and it is very important to do this so that workmen's compensation can be started if needed. That does not mean you are currently eligible for workmen's compensation. Any kind of injury at work needs to be reported right away for your own personal protection!!! You should be able to track who the lancet came from and look into their history to see if they had any Hepatitis. (Think back and try to remember who it belonged to.) If they did not, you are most likely fine, so stop worrying and just be more careful!! If they do have a history of it then there is some potential you might become sick but not necessarily. I recommend every healthcare worker go through the Hepatitis B vaccine series as the potential for needle sticks is so great in our work environment. You should re-evaluate your technique and see why you might have gotten stuck and if it was due to the type of lancet then I would bring it to your employee safety/health representative and ask that the lancets be changed to a different, more safe type!! Good Luck!!