Have any of you ever been stuck by a needle and not felt it?

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2014

You did not feel a pinprick and there was no blood.The infection control nurse was not alarmed.

You are experiencing a panic/anxiety reaction. These reactions could become more frequent.

I hope you reach out to your EAP, get a little counseling so you can overcome this.

I just looked at my palms for ya, I also found a small pink bump. Haven't stuck anybody in years.

Peace.

ka2rn · Sep 5, 2014

I know I am anxious about stuff like this. Hopefully everything will be ok

ICURN3020 · Sep 6, 2014

Nope....it hurt like bejesus!!!! Thankfully it was only once and it was unused on the patient.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 6, 2014

I've stuck myself a couple of times, and believe me, I felt it. Even with an insulin needle. Luckily it happened before and not after I used it on a patient! You'll be fine, you would have known it if you'd stuck yourself with an IV needle. :yes:

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2014

No you would have felt it! They are sharp and hurt! Make sure you have all your supplies before you go in an please make sure you have the correct size gloves that fit really well. Make a place to set the shielded sharp BEFORE you do the stick if you can separate from any garbage pile. Make sure you have enough gauze at the ready. Also minimize interruptions..take control of the situation so you do not get poked....you are in charge...you can take the steps so you do not get poked....never take any shortcuts with safety.....NEVER. It can be done if you always take precautions...I have NEVER poked myself with a blood filled IV catheter in 33 years of nursing and this includes the non safety ones we used to use. I have poked myself once with a SQ needle that some that was not thinking used at a Y site and once I reached into a box of syringes and one had a broken needle in it. So yes it can be done! You get to decide it will not happen to YOU.

PS. I have started thousands upon thousands of IVs as most of my time has been spent in IV therapy as well as floating to every floor for extra shifts

ka2rn · Sep 6, 2014

Yeah. I can't say I didn't get interrupted a few times. My vocera phone was called twice while I was with the patient once I had to leave the room because the supervisor wanted to give me a bed. I'm good about realeasing the safety as I'm pulled the needle out of the patient. It's just weird because I have no idea where that little prick spot came from. I have been stuck by a 20g jelco before and I knew immediately and it bled. Unless I was so in the moment with this one I don't know how I couldve not felt it.

ka2rn · Sep 6, 2014

This patient was a hard stick and had to be stuck multiple times. Don't throw things at me but I attempted 4 times. I believe it was a with a 20, 22, and 2 24's. I was charge nurse and rarely miss iv's and had the most experience on the floor that day. Unless I grazed myself with the 22 or 24 idk. I was really careful. When I had that other stick with the jelco I was holding my fingers too close trying to feel the vein and it came out of the vein and stuck my finger. I even had that thought in the room that I needed to move my fingers. I am so mad at myself right now.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2014

Just take care of yourself. .that is what is important

hemonurseholly · Sep 10, 2014

You would have definitely felt it. I have been stuck numerous times ( I work in dialysis and we draw up so much heparin and saline etc because it's cheaper than the safer prefilled alternative) I once had an 18G go go right through my middle finger because it hit the metal edge drawing up heparin. A few sticks from tuberculin needles used for lidocaine because they are so flimsy the slightest bend and they go sideways through the cap when you are putting it on. And an epo syringe that got caught in my glove somehow and went through. It was dirty. My only saving grace is that I know my patients are tested constantly for blood born pathogens. So I really have no need to panic when it happens. It is inevitable when you spend your day in a unit where all you deal with is blood and needles.

amzyRN · Sep 12, 2014

I stuck myself with a new needle (an insulin syringe) when I was taking it out of the package and it split my finger, like a paper cut kind of. It bled and hurt and I definitely felt it. From that moment on, I am very careful when starting an IV or performing an injection. If I were in your case, I would try to let go of the anxiety since it seems like the bump is probably something else. The worst case scenario type of thinking does seem like an anxiety reaction. I've had that before and I try to talk myself out of it every time.

Karou · Sep 13, 2014

I have stuck myself twice.

The first time was with an IV. I was demonstrating our IV equipment to a student, specifically how to advance the catheter while pulling the needle back. I stuck myself, definitely embarrassed.

The second time was when we got some new lancets. I tried about five before I figured out how to activate them and in the process managed to prick myself.

Each time I felt it, especially with the IV. I imagine a subcutaneous needle would be more difficult to feel.

It doesn't sound like you had a needle stick. You have been given some great advice on here by previous posters.