Needlestick from a HIV+ Patient.....I am so upset :(

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Okay here is my story as unbelievable as it may seem. I am always so careful I never thought this could happen. I am a new nurse(just under 4 months) I was working on my floor and we were so shortstaffed (even more than usual). So I was running around doing 3 things at once. I was giving a SC Heparin shot to my new admission (in the arm, she was thin but she wouldnt agree to anywhere else) anyway she jumped and shook her arm it was quick but for a second i thought "did that stick me?" subconciously but had gloves on and didnt really feel pain. I forgot about it with all the confusion. Anyway I noticed a couple of days later that i thought i had a splinter and the skin is like drying up and peeling a bit. Then I remember what had happened a couple of days before and realize that the needle probably did stick me! The worst part is that pt is confirmed HIV+ and had a high viral load. Now its too late to take ARV prophylaxsis and too late to tell anyone at work. I feel like such an idiot! I am terrified to think this stupid careless mistake could affect my life forever. I don't even want to go to work today because the past couple of days have been a nightmare. Sometimes I think that although I love nursing, days like that make it so dangerous and not worth it. I am at a loss, so sad and upset to think I have to wait 3 to 6 months to find out if this truely will affect me or not. I truely don't know what to think or do......

OMG!!! I can't imagine what you are going through. I just want you to know that if you feel your hospital is so short staff that you are putting yourself in danger then you probably don't have to be there. When entering a work place as a new grad you need to look in to the needlestick rations and what the hosp is doing about it. There are hosp out there that have retractable needles and do a lot to protect their employees this way. I know of someone who did get AIDS from sticking their had in the box. I would never take my chances. YOU NEED to be at a place you feel they care for you. GOOD LUCK and I will keep you in my prayers,

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was reading it is not as easy to catch HIV and hepatitis from needlesticks, especialy subcutaneous ones.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in vascular, med surg, home health , rehab,.

I tried to call employee health to beg them for help but the woman said they are closed because it is a saturday. I guess I just have to wait it out and get tested and see what happens. The anxiety alone is going to kill me.

Call the nursing supervisor, you dont have to wait for office hour employee health....you have an ER right? Thats where you will go in the interim. I have stuck myself god know how many times, the anxiety is just a nightmare; the chances are slim, but do something, report it and be seen in the Er if necesssary. You dont have to wait till Monday.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I tried to call employee health to beg them for help but the woman said they are closed because it is a saturday. I guess I just have to wait it out and get tested and see what happens. The anxiety alone is going to kill me.

Call the nursing supervisor, you dont have to wait for office hour employee health....you have an ER right? Thats where you will go in the interim. I have stuck myself god know how many times, the anxiety is just a nightmare; the chances are slim, but do something, report it and be seen in the Er if necesssary. You dont have to wait till Monday.

yup, ER pronto, if you havent gone already......

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am prenursing and this kind of situation (in general) makes me second-guess the decision to enter the nursing profession. :caduceus:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So sorry this has happened-FOLLOWUP ON THIS NOW!!! EMERGENCY ROOM-TELL THEM EVERYTHING.....Forget about what they might or might not say. Take care of you-and please let us know how things go. I also agree that the chances of contracting is pretty slim, but it is easy for me to sit here and tell you that because I am not the one with the needle stick this time. Please Followup ASAP-in my thoughts and prayers.

Mim-o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg.

I nave had that horrible feeling after getting stuck from an insulin syringe from a positive HIV patient. He did it deliberately and I was struck on one of my fingertips. The doctor like the posters here say the chances are slim. He told me that it more likely would have to be venous blood. Good luck. I can say this time, I know how you feel.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used to work in the lab as a med tech, and I have drawn on many HIV people. I have never been stuck with a dirty needle, but I have had a few guys cough around me during bronchial washes, and in micro, I had to do all the cultures on the blood and fluids. There were nurses who would come down to get results from us on their fluids who had dirty sticks, and months later, they were all negative. What I am trying to say, is it is VERY hard to get HIV via a needle stick like yours. A PICC line spray into an open wound is a higher chance, but still very low.

Just remember, God put us all here, and I always pray that the same blood that runs through Jesus, runs through me, and I just pray to keep me safe. I will definitely pray for you too, as I know you are going through turmoil at this time, and its hard to reassure yourself, but please don't linger over this and let it affect your life.....be aware, take your tests, and report it NOW, but also have faith that God is in control, and I bet no matter what, you will make sure the next patient will not jump.

As a tech, we always had to draw when the workload was high, and the lab/nurses were short....I always used to tell the patients to please remain still as possible, esp. the HIV TB or HEP pts. You just have to treat them all the same, but after drawing blood 200x per day, I learned early on to explain not moving because the needle will break in their arms (not really, but it keeps them still).

Love you lots!!! No worries, I am praying for you now, and may you have peace in your spirit and be calm throughout it all.

(((HUGS)))

deb

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

You would be incredibly stupid to not report it. Forget the pride thats getting in your way and report it ASAP. The place I work at has a 24 hr needle stick line so it can be reported right away. So what if your embarrased.....GET OVER IT. Your health is at risk.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

Even though your chances of getting HIV from this needlestick are low, you should still report it. That way employee health can follow up with you for the next 6 - 12 (?) months for lab draws. I think you will have more peace of mind when your tests keep coming up negative.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am so sorry this happened to you. It is one of my very worst fears. Make sure you get checked out. No excuses! :icon_hug: Your safety and health are the most important things here. Go get this taken care of. Your hospital's employee health department should be able to help you.

BTW, several years ago (early 90's) this happened to my friend's mom, who was a nurse. I remember her coming home crying. My friend and I didn't know what had happened, but we remembered all of the adults being in a huge uproar, very upset. Eventually we found out what happened. It was a long, drawn out period that she had to wait, and she was a nervous wreck the whole time, but she turned up negative. Chances are that you will too.:):kiss

Up Vote Up Vote ×

GO TO ER NOW! That is where you're supposed to go. That is where we go when this happens. If you work night shift or weekends and get stuck, you think you're supposed to wait until Monday for employee health? NO! YOU GO TO THE ER! And don't worry about feeling stupid... they've heard worse stories than this. And I'm sure many of them have stuck themselves before since they work in a hectic environment and can relate with you.

Go right now!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment