Legal case study question

[vmilty]

Good morning,

I am trying to finish up a cas study for my management/legal issues class, and want to know if anyone has any other info I can use.

The situation is a scrub nurse getting a slight prick handing a needle to the Surgeon. He doesn't want her to take time to reglove. What federal regulations might help her in the event of an injury or infection, and what are her rights under those?

I have these concepts: (BRIEFLY stated here)

* OSHA - blood borne pathogens section including gloveing and post stick regulations

* Check to see if Surgeon has any fileings with Federal Data Bank if she has to

* Is there anything that NIOSH can do, or is that mostly research?

* If he won't let her reglove, she can sneeze on the sterile field!

* She should have personal Libaility insurance incase she or the patient get an infection

Am I missing anythying important? I didn't take very many notes of federal stuff, and wish I had now!

Victoria

[bobnurse]

what about the OSHA needle safety act? I think its OSHA..The law/act that required everyone to go needless, or have safety devices on all needles?

[apaisRN, RN, CRNA]

Is it a dirty needle? If she's handing it to the surgeon it ought to be a clean one.

[Jolie, BSN]

Maybe I am missing something here. Why on Earth would the scrub nurse wait for the surgeon's OK to re-glove? Is she not a professional with an obligation to protect the patient and herself?

I am assuming that her glove was clean and nicked by a sterile needle. If so, the needle is no longer sterile. It needs to be counted and discarded, and she needs to re-glove, to protect the integrity of the sterile field.

If the needle was dirty, then she needs to count it, preserve it for Occupational Health, and call for an immediate replacement in the OR so that her health needs can be tended to.

If the nurse simply exercises common sense and advocates for herself, then her rights will be protected up front, and she won't have to worry about defending herself at a later time should the patient develop an infection.

Why are nurses so d**n afraid of doctors?

[NurseFirst]

good morning,

i am trying to finish up a cas study for my management/legal issues class, and want to know if anyone has any other info i can use.

the situation is a scrub nurse getting a slight prick handing a needle to the surgeon. he doesn't want her to take time to reglove. what federal regulations might help her in the event of an injury or infection, and what are her rights under those?

i have these concepts: (briefly stated here)

* osha - blood borne pathogens section including gloveing and post stick regulations

* check to see if surgeon has any fileings with federal data bank if she has to

* is there anything that niosh can do, or is that mostly research?

* if he won't let her reglove, she can sneeze on the sterile field!

* she should have personal libaility insurance incase she or the patient get an infection

am i missing anythying important? i didn't take very many notes of federal stuff, and wish i had now!

victoria

maybe she could just "faint" over the surgical instrument table ... :) remember, as far as sneezing, she is supposed to have a mask on...

nursefirst