Patient scratched by needle during vaccination

[ajz1215]

I am a GN working for a pediatrician. Before I give any vaccinations to children, I make sure that the parent is holding on to them tightly and explain that they need to keep a good hold on them because someone could get hurt with the needle. I also recheck to make sure that they are still holding them tightly between shots. But as I was giving a vaccination today, the child moved and the needle scratched his arm and it bled. I went and got our doctor who said it was just a superficial scratch, put a large bandaid on it and reassured the mother. This is the first time that this has happened to me and I feel AWFUL. Has this happened to anyone before? Any advice for me regarding how to better handle a situation like this?

[haiyangcherry]

Thanks for your reply. I noticed that after scratch, some vaccine came out. The nurse said, seems to make herself confident, it is ok because the majority of vaccine is in. But I really doubt.

[BiotoBSNtoFNP]

I've never had the parent hold a child because I didn't want the child to associate the parent with holding the child down to cause pain. I prefer two staff members holding while I do the procedure as the parent stands off to the side to soothe. I'm fine with being the bad guy... I just don't want the parent anywhere near the actual causing the pain, unless they're adamant. Of course, if the parent has to learn to give injections to a child who will go home with insulin or something similar, that's a different story...

This is what ive been taught. To have the parent at the foot of the bed or head of the bed reassuring but NOT holding them so the patient does not associate the parent with the pain. But i can understand that not every office has the staff for extra holders.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Thanks for your reply. I noticed that after scratch, some vaccine came out. The nurse said, seems to make herself confident, it is ok because the majority of vaccine is in. But I really doubt.

Hi, Here on allnurses we can't ask this comment as we do not offer medical advice but as you mentioned in your other post maybe time to have a chat with your doctor