Poked self

[Jayden0228]

So, tonight I was to give someone insulin with an insulin pen and accidentally pushed the button without injecting him. I put a new UNUSED needle in the pen and then accdentally poked my self with the needle. The guy has hep c. Should I be this upset and paranoid about it? I'm freaking!!!!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Did you follow your facility's policy and procedure for needlesticks? Let that and the decision from occupational health tell you what you need to know.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

You poked yourself with an unused needle? Nothing to worry about.

[mrsjonesRN]

I would think that if the insulin was a used pen, it is considered contaminated, even if the needle is fresh. I would tell your immediate supervisor so your protocol for needle sticks can be followed.

[NOADLS]

The needle wasn't used. You should be fine, barring any h4x0z (ie needle manufacturer poking a hep c / HIV positive person, then sealing the needle and putting it out for distribution)

Needlestick policies are in place for employer liability and don't correctly reflect the risk for transmissible disease.

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

Was the insulin pen previously used? If yes, then I agree with mrsjonesRN that the device is considered contaminated.

[mrsjonesRN]

I was taught at my facility the pen is considered contaminated because "patient tissue" can flow back up into the actual pen once the needle is used to administer insulin to a patient. Our facility had an issue with this before because someone accidentally used a insulin pen for one patient on another patient, therefore an email was sent out saying to double check the pen and make sure it is actually the patient's.

[NurseEmmy]

A new needle on a used insulin pen is still considered to be contaminated or a "dirty" stick. You need to notify your supervisor ASAP and follow your facility's post exp. policy.