Figaro18

I posted earlier about the contact i had with a patients blood (i picked up her bloody alcohol swab without realizing it) I did go to PCP who told me not to worry, but my school did say i can/can't report it to the hospital. They said its up to the ER at the placement location to decide if they want to draw blood or not. I understand the risk is minimal. I kind of want to report it just to be extra cautious but i also don't want everyone on the unit to know it was me or something. I don't even know if thats possible but I'm so embarrassed. I also didn't tell my placement instructor till the day after it happened because the unit was so busy it completely slipped my mind. I'm hoping she won't get upset at me for not telling her right away. I'm so mad at myself for messing up.

I had no idea! They never showed us how to do it in labs and the nurse who taught me first week said to just use the same alcohol swab you use to wipe their finger clean to apply pressure. I don't even know where cotton is on my unit. I'm going to ask when i go in. Thank you!

I did end up emailing my instructor who in turn ended up RE:ing the coordinator who ended up RE:ing 2 other coordinators. They all told me to fill out an incident report through occ health at my school right away which i did. They also said to go to my family doctor and/or ER for medical advice. I ended up going to my family doctor who pretty much laughed. Said to go home and study. Lets just hope my instructor doesn't rip me apart next time i see her. Or fail me

Yesterday, i had clinical on a rehab unit. It was my first shift being independent with a client, and so it was very hectic. I was checking a pts glucose who gets it done qid. After checking it, I gave her an alcohol swab and i took my gloves off and was talking to the pt. While i was talking to her, i noticed her finger was still bleeding quite a bit. I immediately reached over to grab another alcohol swab and picked up her dirty one instead. With no gloves on. I was shocked at first, but then i told myself its just intact skin. So i left the room, sanitized and washed my hands when i had the chance. Anyways, this morning, i woke up. And realize I had a tiny cut on my middle finger that i got almost 24 hours before. Its a very tiny cut but it didn't make me panic. I feel so stupid. I don't know if i'm just freaking out for no reason, or if i should email my instructor or just go to the ER.