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

[RiaRN]

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......

[pinksugar]

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! !

We aren't supposed to go to the ER. Only employee health will handle our cases. If employee health isn't open at the time of the stick, we go to the ER, but as soon as the next business day rolls around employee health will take over the entire case. I just started a new job and read this policy yesterday. They are very strict and said that all cases of this sort MUST be followed by employee health. Only immediate care can be given in the ER (as in, going there from work, leaving your work station at the time of the stick). I guess it depends on the hospital. I must admit that I really don't care for my hospital's policy concerning this issue.:angryfire

I hope the OP can get this sorted out soon. It must be terrifying, even though she has the chances on her side.