Needle sticks in HD

[EnergizerNurse]

Are needle sticks a common occurence among HD nurses?

I was speaking to a med-surg nurse who is contemplating switching into her hospital's acute inpatient HD department. She is re-thinking her plan after learning that an HD nurse at the same hospital was stuck by a needle that had been inside an HIV-positive patient.

This HD nurse followed proper hospital protocol regarding sharp incidents, and thank God, remains hiv negative. However, she swiftly sought a transfer out of HD.

Are there tricks of the trade that HD nurses can share on this board to avoid future needle sticks?

[rn,lmt]

It is truly unfortunate that these things do occasionally occur, however, there are precautions that can be used to cut down on these risks. One, is to make sure your clinic is using "dialysis safety needles". The second is when the needle is being removed from the graft or fistula make sure you (as the decannulator) teach the patient how to apply pressure to the area while the needle is being removed. Third, encourage and educate your patients how to self cannulate (I know this is a stretch, but the longest fistulas I have ever seen have been cannulated by the dialysis patient). Last, work with INTENTION. Every move you make in the field needs to be with thought and meaning. If you are removing a needle, pay attention to the procedure. If you are initiating a treatment, pay attention. As a nurse I know I have to juggle fifty things at once, but it is only good patient care to make sure at that moment of their and your life, the action that you are performing is the most important thing in the world. Sorry this is so long, I'm often wordy.