Needlestick at work....STRESSED!

Published

This has already been the worst week of my life and it's only Tuesday. Sunday night I was giving insulin to my patient via a Novolog flex pen. I have the shot in the patient's arm, removed the needle (ya know cuz those flex pen needles need to be unscrewed and discarded) and threw it in sharps...only trouble is the needle actually stuck to my glove and ended up poking me as I was putting her Novolog pen away. So, I quickly re-discarded the needle, removed my gloves, washed the site (it's a tiny pin prick on the upper palm of my hand between my 3rd and 4th fingers), it bled a bit and then I headed down to the ER. While in the ER the doctor and I scrubbed the site again, they took a bunch of blood and started me on PEP for HIV and ordered bloods on my patient. Today I was informed that my patient's initial HIV test was negative but they are doing a viral load to try and rule out the 6 month window period, but then I was told she is both Hepatitis B and C positive. I have been vaccinated for B and my blood work showed that I do form the antibodies so my vaccines are working but of course there's nothing that can be done for Hep C. Now, I have been told that since I was wearing gloves, it was a very tiny needle, it was a sub q injection, and I washed the wound immediately that my chances of seroconverting are slim but I am in a PANIC! Any words of wisdom?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

That is super stressful. I am currently most of the way through my post exposure testing for a blood exposure, I know how you feel, it can really weigh on your mind. It sounds like you are well informed, so all I can offer is positive thoughts. Remember, it is a small risk, so keep positive!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hope everything turns out okay for you!! I was so hopeful that the patient would come back clean for everything so my worries could pretty much end, but once I heard the Hepatitis B and C positive results I became a basket case, and let me tell ya, google isn't helping. The nurse I spoke to today was pretty sure my chances were less than the 3% usually reported just because I wore gloves, washed, and was using such a small sub q needle (my patient wasn't even bleeding at the injection site) but any chance is too big for me! At least I've been vaccinated for Hep B but Hep C really scares me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

hang in there. I tested Hep C antibody positive , PCR negative after an exposure. WORST few weeks of my life. I was informed in a very horrible way. the health dept called to 'inform me" of what i should do to not to infect others..........they did that before the drs. had contacted me. IN the end the reason the infectious disease drs had not contacted me was because they suspected a false positive. They ran a RIBA which came back negative and confirmed the false positive. I was an emotional basket case, i wouldn't wish that on anyone. if you have any questions about the testing feel free to private message me. there are some great hep C boards out there and they were very supportive and helpful as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow. I hope the best for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Evolvngrn:Your post is very encouraging to me just because when I spoke to my employee health nurse she told me that they were still waiting the results of the patient's PCR so maybe there's a chance that the patient isn't hepatitis C positive at all. The patient's hepatitis B results were reactive for antibodies but not antigens so they said she had been exposed but wasn't carrying Hepatitis B. Her initial HIV test was non-reactive but they were checking a viral load, and her hepatitis C was reactive but they were awaiting her PCR results. I'm told that either way, high PCR or not my chances are extremely low because I was using a 30g 8mm needle, had gloves on, washed immediately (twice) and of course because sub q injections don't hit veins or arteries. When I pulled the pen off the patient she wasn't even bleeding, I remember thinking "gee I hope the needle worked" because I couldn't even see where the injection was. Regardless this whole situation sucks. It was bad enough doing it, but now that I hear the patient is positive for stuff it's even worse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hang I there. I wasn't stuck by a needle but by a dental drill. I knew the patient was hep c positive and I did my best to very careful when cleaning up the room. Upon removing the bit I accidentally poked my finger. I quickly removed my glove and pinched my finger to see if it had penetrated the skin. I did, I quickly washed my hands and went to the er. I went through the six months of testing. It was agonizing! However, I received some relief from our workmans comp investigator the day after my stick. He said it happens very often and has yet to date seen a positive transmission. Find solace in that and remember that the odds are in your favor. I never contracted anything from my stick and hope I never have to go through the process again. Oh, and don't google!! I also remember being paranoid about sharing drinks with family (even though I know that's how most things are contracted) and getting my nails and toes done during those six months. It was a torturous feeling and made me realize what people who do have something that is transmissible to others must feel.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh thank you! Different circumstance but still very reassuring and very similar! I'm glad everything has worked out for you. It has only been 2 days and it has been torturous, I am exhausted, I am stressed, it sucks! I am not looking forward to 6 months of the unknown. My employee health nurse did say this happens often and that many of them turned out fine...it's just very stressful. I have no idea how I'm going to go in to work tomorrow and function :-(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Exposures are always scary and stressful. I wish you the best of luck. Take some solace in knowing your risk is VERY small.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

((HUGS)) It's happened to all of us...((HUGS))

Up Vote Up Vote ×

xoemmylouox: I think if I stayed off google I would be able to take solace in the fact that my risk is so small but noooo I just keep googling. I am so afraid to go to work tonight it isn't even funny. I am dreading it, I NEVER dread going to work as I love my job!

Esme12: That's what I keep hearing. It is reassuring to hear that it happens to just about everyone but then it always pops into my mind that at some point, somebody is going to actually contract something and what if that someone is me?!

I just hope this is my one and only stick and that some day I can look back on all of this panic and torture and use my experience to try to reassure somebody else that they're going to be okay. My employee health nurse strongly believes I will be fine and even said "in a few months this will all be behind you" but months feel soooo long when you're waiting for something like this! It's been 3 days and I'm going crazy!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I got the results of my patient's PCR today and her hepatits C viral load was undetectable. It is my understanding that this really lowers my chance of seroconversion, but then again I am a new nurse so maybe that is inexperience talking?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment