Poked myself with a syringe

[Dakeirus]

So, I was practicing intradermal injections on a fake arm. I accidentally poked myself with my syringe. (Which taught me to always cap it when not in use) I'm the only one who's used the syringe but other people have also practiced on the fake arm. I immediately used an alcohol swab and washed my hands. I'm worried...am I going to catch anything?

[chaxanmom]

If the "100 pages" thing prevents even 1 nurse from carelessly poking herself with a dirty needle, then I think my classmates have been well served by having it there as a repercussion.

Probably teaching students the proper way to handle a used sharp would be more effective than an empty threat. 100 pages is like a doctoral dissertation. There is no way they are going to require 100 pages of research on needle sticks. That's right up there with a parent threatening to ground a kid for "the rest of your life!" It's just silly.

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

you have to recap after drawing the medicine up in the med room to take it to the patient's bedside, otherwise you're walking around the halls with an open needle! eep!

we draw our meds up with one needle and then switch them to give the med, the rationale is the needle will be dulled somewhat by the rubber on top of the med vial and the injection is less painful if the needle is as sharp as possible. we scoop the cap on the first needle and then twist it off the syringe and put on the new one with cap in place.

what's the deal with recapping? i keep hearing that syringes should not be recapped, because that's when you are most likely to get stuck. but apparently, after reading these posts, recapping is still ok? i am confused. the nurses, doctors and nps where i work never recap; they just chuck the syringe in the collection box on the wall.

we don't recap in clinicals, but in lab we have to because we use our needles over and over on the mannequins so we learn to scoop recab for that purpose.

here's my ,

[Hilinenursegrl]

Here we also draw up the med in the med room, switch needles;using the "scoop" technique" then administer them and place them in the sharps without recapping. Atomic I would be interested to know how it is done at your facility if no recapping is done? Do they walk down the halls with the filled and uncapped syringe. Which is a hazard to both anyone in the hall, could get poked and the pt, could get infection.

[justme1972]

Suesquatch is right.

You were practicing...it was no different that sticking yourself with a sewing needle at home b/c the syringe was clean.

However, you NEVER, ever recap a needle after using it on a patient or IV's, etc.

On the very rare occasion that a special type of syringe may require recapping and the sharps container is not available, we were told to set the syringe cap on a table, scoop up the cap with the needle, and then press it against something hard (NOT your hand) to recap it.

[justme1972]

If the "100 pages" thing prevents even 1 nurse from carelessly poking herself with a dirty needle, then I think my classmates have been well served by having it there as a repercussion.

Sounds like an urban school myth...I think your teacher was just kidding and you guys just thought she was serious...which is one reason why no one actually knows of someone that had to do the paper.

It also sends the wrong message. Accidents happen and all that teacher did was scare students into NOT reporting a bona-fide needle stick.

Needle sticks need to be reported so HIV precautions can be taken if the needle is dirty....when you draw up meds not administered the needle is still considered clean.

All your instructor did was scare students into not reporting something that could significantly affect their health.

The best nurses in the profession have been stuck.

Doesn't sound like instructors that care about the students health...more like they don't want to do the paperwork.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Nah, it was included in the curriculum notice and in the syllabus notes for Skills I Lab.

I in no way support the 'rule', and agree it would probably dissuade people from reporting sticks. It's not the only wonky thing in our program, I assure you.

[shrimpchips, LPN]

What's the deal with recapping? I keep hearing that syringes should not be recapped, because that's when you are most likely to get stuck. But apparently, after reading these posts, recapping is still OK? I am confused. The nurses, doctors and NPs where I work never recap; they just chuck the syringe in the collection box on the wall.

Just curious...

You should recap after drawing up a medication/transfering the syringe to a patient's room (maintains sterility of the needle...by walking to the patient's room there is "air traffic" which can make the needle idk, less sterile? lol) - you do this by the one-scoop method like I explained before; place the cap on the table then "scoop" the needle using your dominate hand into the cap. Once the needle is in the cap, you can use your other hand to make sure the cap is on tightly. You should never recap a dirty needle. Use a safety device if the syringe has one.