Needle stick Injury but Unused Needle

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello,

I would just like you're opinion on a situation. I was working on the floor and drew up Novolog 1 unit into an insulin syringe to administer to my patient before lunch. I gowned up and went into the patient's room, because he is in contact isolation. Patient refused the abdomen and requested to place the injection on his arm. As I was cleaning his arm with one and and holding the insulin needle in another, somehow I fumbled my hands and the needle fell right onto my left 4th finger. The needle has not been used on the patient, but I was bleeding and ended up developing a tiny under-the-skin bruise of my finger. What sucks too was the previous day I just had requested my PCP to test my blood for Hep C just because of paranoia. Well because the needle was unused, the supervisor didn't recommend treatment. I did perform first aid on myself. Is there a chance of developing an infection? I think it's my paranoia that is getting to me. I just want reassurance. Thanks!

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Oh, come on ...seriously? ;)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

How do you think the bugs might have gotten from the patient to your bloodstream? What would have been their route and mechanism of travel?

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Specializes in ICU and Dialysis.

Do your PATIENTS regularly get infections from clean needle sticks? No? Well you won't either.

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Do your PATIENTS regularly get infections from clean needle sticks? No? Well you won't either.

Well, the OP probably didn't swab the area with an alcohol swab prior to the jab. :p

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Is there a chance of developing an infection? I think it's my paranoia that is getting to me.

You were stuck with a CLEAN needle. Were your hands dirty? I don't understand your logic. Theoretically, if you didn't swab your hands, there could be potential for infection, but I would think the chances are really SLIM. If you are worried about contracting something from the patient, I'd say, yeah paranoia doesn't even begin to describe it.

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Specializes in Oncology.
Well, the OP probably didn't swab the area with an alcohol swab prior to the jab. :p

Diabetics who take insulin shots 6 times a day at home don't either. And if she was in a room providing patient care she presumably just washed her hands.

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I just think any needle stick injury that was not intentional to myself would cause me just worry in general. So I am just crazy. LOL. Thanks!

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It's because I was gowned up in an isolation room. I presume that anything and everything in that room is contaminated with patient's germs. Patient was on contact for MRSA Nares and VRE stool. But again, it is just my paranoia kicking in to make me think something else happened in there. But thanks for the response!

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Specializes in Oncology.

So many people have VRE in their stool we stopped isolating for it years ago. I bet most nurses have MRSA in their nares too.

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Specializes in Pedi.
It's because I was gowned up in an isolation room. I presume that anything and everything in that room is contaminated with patient's germs. Patient was on contact for MRSA Nares and VRE stool. But again, it is just my paranoia kicking in to make me think something else happened in there. But thanks for the response!

Ok, and sticking yourself with a clean needle that hadn't touched the patient is related to the patient being colonized with MRSA and VRE HOW?

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Oh honey...

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