I wonder how many nurses out there experienced a needle stick injury

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I had my first needle stick injury back in November 2009, I was working for Mollen Immunization clinic, and after giving an IM shot to a young girl (about 16-17) I accidently punctured my finger with the dirty needle. I dont know what happend, I guess it was a classic example of needle stick injury that so often happens to people working in the health care industry, you know we read about the statistics, thinking that some of it is made up, but than you realize (after being a victim yourself) that most nurses will be exposed to blood, dirty needle at one point in their lifetime, I guess you cant predict it, could happen regardless the precautions you take. I never followed up with my needle stick injury. I actually never told anyone. The girl looked like a girl next door, clean cut, goody, goody girl. Yet, sometimes I wonder...

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Yeah, I did the same thing with an insulin needle. I was on orientation, and I was so nervous and embarassed that I didn't say anything. Stupid.

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I did back in 2002. Older cancer patient for a routine blood draw. Nice, hollow, bloody needle stick. During the investigation, turned out the patient had HEP B. I should be a poster child for vaccination because I'm still good to go today. Had a scare in 06 when I had elevated LFT's on routine blood work. Turned out to be a benign liver disorder, Gilbert's syndrome.

If you get stuck, do your self a favour and report it. Hurt pride never killed anybody that I know, hepatitis and HIV however?

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.
I never followed up with my needle stick injury. I actually never told anyone. The girl looked like a girl next door, clean cut, goody, goody girl. Yet, sometimes I wonder...

What do you wonder about? Pretty much anything you could have caught from her would show up in a blood test by now -- get yourself tested for HIV, Hepatitis, and anything else you doc recommends, and you can stop wondering -- not that I think you caught anything, the odds are tiny, but if it will give you peace of mind, then get tested!

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i hope you had a blood test and that your ok

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Stuck myself twice. The first time I was a new nurse and was afraid I'd be in trouble so I didn't report it. Years ago

The second time I did report it. Incident report, blood tests for both me and the pt. Everything was ok.

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I've had two "injuries." The first was clean. I was in back of an ambulance and was trying to inject something into an IV bag to start an infusion, missed the port, and I cut my finger open. No big.

The second; another medic I was working with started an IV while I was placing leads on a woman. He sat the stylette on the bench, and I sat down. It went straight into the back of my knee. 18 ga. I immediately stood up, pulled it out, dropped my pants, and used some of that "not for human use" surface spray cleaner to wash the puncture out, lol. And did the other guy get an R rated talking to!

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I've had two "injuries." The first was clean. I was in back of an ambulance and was trying to inject something into an IV bag to start an infusion, missed the port, and I cut my finger open. No big.

The second; another medic I was working with started an IV while I was placing leads on a woman. He sat the stylette on the bench, and I sat down. It went straight into the back of my knee. 18 ga. I immediately stood up, pulled it out, dropped my pants, and used some of that "not for human use" surface spray cleaner to wash the puncture out, lol. And did the other guy get an R rated talking to!

Sounds like he almost got an R rated show, too!!!! :eek::D

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

I got stuck removing the insulin syringe after an injection. It's been a while but as I remember they didn't have any blood in the lab so had to ask the patient to allow us to draw blood test. He was real nice about it, but I felt awful because my clumsiness had caused him that hassle. I'm a lot more careful deploying the needle guard after injections now.

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Specializes in Oncology, Medical.

I only got myself once but it was a clean needle. I forgot that I had removed the cap of the needle already and, without looking, went to take off the cap again and the needle hit my finger. Yeahhhh, I was tired that day....

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

I have stuck myself a few times over the years and also cut myself, drilled into my palm and put an osteotome into my hand. This was all before the HIV scare and before Hep C was a big problem. Throw some betadine on it and a bandaid and called it a day. I have , however, been more diligent over the past number of years and have only stuck myself once with a clean needle.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.
I had my first needle stick injury back in November 2009, I was working for Mollen Immunization clinic, and after giving an IM shot to a young girl (about 16-17) I accidently punctured my finger with the dirty needle. I dont know what happend, I guess it was a classic example of needle stick injury that so often happens to people working in the health care industry, you know we read about the statistics, thinking that some of it is made up, but than you realize (after being a victim yourself) that most nurses will be exposed to blood, dirty needle at one point in their lifetime, I guess you cant predict it, could happen regardless the precautions you take. I never followed up with my needle stick injury. I actually never told anyone. The girl looked like a girl next door, clean cut, goody, goody girl. Yet, sometimes I wonder...

I hope that you will follow up with testing for yourself now. Looks can be very deceiving. Although the odds are slim I'd rather be safe than sorry.

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