Needle Stick! OMG!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

:eek: Yes, I have done the unthinkable.........me of all folks.......OB/employee health nurse. How could this happen to me?

I was helping out of the floor. Went to give IV meds, and No i really don't know if there was blood backed up in the port. I flushed the port w/ 3cc NS, gave the IV Lasix, and started to flush the port again. The patient jerked her arm away and the needle stuck into my thumb, deep. Crap it hurt and pissed me off too.

NO we don't use a needleless system at our small rural south ga hospital.

Finished w/ the patient, finger bleed freely, I washed it with antibacterial soap, went thru the protocol.......drug test, alcohol test, HIV and Hep test...........incident report......etc..........

The doc had the patient tested for Hep. He said he wasn't worried about HIV.......

So, here's my question..........pt. background......80 year old female.....never had a blood transfusion.

After I did all of that, the infection control person says.......do you want to take the medicine for AIDS/HIV.........well I didn't.......I didn't think it was necessary and wasn't sure of side effects or even haven't heard much about this.

Was i wrong? What would you have done?

BTW.......my hep has come back neg.........don't know when the HIV will return.

Yeah, I am sure lawyers had a hand in writing this, but my understanding of the law is this: if there are safer alternatives available the facility must adopt one of these safer alternatives...in this case needleless systems are available and the facility has not adopted them....therefore they are in violation of OSHA regs....I think Dianne should be able to take her facility to the cleaners for pain and mental anguish.....:(

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Specializes in Hospice.
Originally posted by deespoohbear

After I went through the protocols for a needle stick, I would have contacted OSHA and reported your facility for being in violation of federal law that mandates needleless systems for all facilities, effective April 2001, . Next I would be notifying the hospital administration that OSHA has been contacted and if for some reason you contract HIV, you are going to slap them with the biggest lawsuit south of the Mason-Dixon Line.....your facility has acted negligently and violated federal law....they should be in deep doo-doo...

And then what? Hit the unemployement line? As I have said before, I live in BFE..........everyone knows when you roll over in your sleep here. Nothing would be "anomious".......and money.....LOL......they can't even pay the bills these days.......having "another" merger at the end of the month..........3rd takeover in as many years.........

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Well, if it came down to my personal health and safety I would consider it. Your facility is definitely in violation of federal law...As the employee health nurse I would think that you would be a safety advocate for your fellow employees....Don't you have to keep a needlestick log? I know our employee health nurse does, and needlesticks anymore require a lot of documentation and follow-up...she hates needlesticks...

I guess it is up to you whether you want to continue to work in a facility that doesn't care for your safety and well being, and the safety and well-being of their patients....

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Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

Honey

From birth to death

ANYONE CAN HAVE AIDS: 8-80 CRIPPLED OR CRAWLING IT DOESNT MEAN THEY AINT A BUG TOTER!!!!!!

If I got stuck with a used needle from Mother Thereasa I would take the precautions:

I met a 84 yr old woman that shot up , she looked like everyones grandma that would bake you cookies and knit you a sweater but the woman was eat up with Hep C.

Think ahead ..... Not assume.

Zoe

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What is the incidence of someone getting a needlestick getting HIV or HepC if the patient is positive for either or both? Also, in the nursing program, are you trained with both needle and needleless injections?

Kris

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I would do what Nurseweasel did. Test the patient. Not take the meds. I have a bad liver already.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.

I might add that in our facility, it's not a matter of "asking" the doctor to run blood tests. Hepatitis screening is standard protocol on source patients for needle sticks, as is attempting to obtain an HIV consent for that testing. We are not legally allowed to test for HIV without that signed consent.

I, too, am horrified that there are no needleless systems in place there. When was the last time JCAHO came through? Are they due soon? You can request a meeting with inspectors to report concerns. Granted, altho you are protected by whistleblower laws, you are risking your job, but I'd be inclined to at least mention this to my coworkers. They should ALL be outraged.

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I've stuck myself twice. Once almost 20 years ago and once 2 years ago. The horror and near shame I felt was substantial. In many many ways I wanted to just deny and forget the whole thing. In the first incident the patient refused testing which was his right at the time. In the recent event the patient was positive for Hep C but I never converted. I really appreciated the help and support of the employee health nurse. I wonder though how many sticks go unreported.

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Specializes in Hospice.

NEWS UPDATE! My HIV and Hep B came back clear......this time.......will sweat it for the next time huh? My Hep. C is not back yet.

As far as JACHO......yeah, they've been here.......will be back soon I'm sure........I don't know what our policy is on the "needleless system". I know we had them for a while.......then they were gone!

I am the employee health nurse, but.......I don't take care of the needlesticks........don't ask........I don't know........someone else handles that........screwed up system.

Will check into everything ya'll have suggested. Thanks alot guys.....your input helps......

Dianne

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I wish you luck Dianne. What a frightening ordeal you went thru. I feel for you. I am glad our hospitals are ALL needleless here, for this very important reason alone. Take care and keep us updated, please!

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I have had a needle stick too...but get this guys...THE NEEDLE HAD PUNCTURED THE SIDE OF THE SHARPS CONTAINER..OK you see we have these sharps containers in our med carts and After giving an insulin shot... I thought I would do my good deed for the day and change it...never thought I would get stuck...An IM needle was sticking out the side as large as you please after the fact... OH MAN>>THE DON WAS HOT!!!!!

We also have the safety feaure sheath on them..pull up and twist...there should have been no reason for that to be sticking out like that...

Since we didn't know the source I have to be tested every 3 monhs..and so on and so forth..plus a tetorifice...

It was just plain laziness on someone's part..I am sorry...you should have seen the sharps cont...the needles and syringes were packed and shoved in there...there is NO reason for that...and alot of the needles we saw did not even have the proctective sheath pulled up!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally posted by teddybear433183

It was just plain laziness on someone's part..I am sorry...you should have seen the sharps cont...the needles and syringes were packed and shoved in there...there is NO reason for that...and alot of the needles we saw did not even have the proctective sheath pulled up!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is just plain laziness on someone's part....One of my pet peeves is full sharps containers...if the thing is full, change it for crying out loud. A task that takes 30 seconds could save someone a lot of heartache and anguish, and maybe save their lives.....

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