Needle stick injury in Health Care

[mnt0121]

I'm a new nurse and the other day I thought to take it upon myself to try and flush a double lumen PICC line. I attached the large bore needle onto the syringe to draw up my saline. Went into the residents room forgot to remove the needle before flushing the PICC line. I flushed the Picc line with the needle and withdrew it rapidly sticking my hand. The problem is the resident tested positive for Hep. C months earlier. Is it possible that the disease could have been transmitted to me just by flushing a picc line with Saline? I wouldn't think so but you never realize how paranoid you become until you accidentally stick yourself.

[BlueRidgeHomeRN]

you need to go to employee health right away. you don't need to tell everything about the circumstances surrounding your needle stick, but you need to have it on record that you were stuck with a needle that may have been contaminated with blood from a hcv patient.

if you do contract hcv from this stick, you will want to be financially backed up by your facility. liver transplants can be very expensive. you will want to be able to prove that you contracted the virus on the job.

also, what others have said about staying within your scope. a hard lesson learned.

my background includes occupational health, and i can tell you that workerman's comp does not cover injuries incurred while performing a task that is in violation of policy and procedure..especially since this injury would go on their public osha log....sorry to bring bad news:bluecry1: