nrsfriend

I hope that the hospital nurses out there use their fine minds and do not fall prey to the propagandizing approach of CNA , or CHA for that matter. I attended one of these seminars and can attest that it was not in any way an attempt to instruct on ways to avoid the regulations! The regs were presented in total (not "selected" exerpts) and methods of meeting them (not avoiding them) were discussed. The PR departments will be crucial in quelling the likely responses of uninformed public and health care consumers, which will be necessary to keep hospitals in a positive light. Hospitals in California are closing folks, for many reasons so what does that do for the state of California Health? Is anyone concerned about where they will work if their hospital closes? NO!! That is because the nursing shortage is REAL and we can always find a job! The average age of the California nurse is 48 - so who will be taking care of us when we finally succumb to the ravages of old age? The information about all of the nurses "flocking to California" is simply ridiculous! There are not enough nurses in California to meet our needs now - and that is without mandated and ill thought out staffing ratios! :angryfire

A stick is always cause for concern and anxiety but the best salve is accurate information. I manage all BBP (bloodborne pathogen) exposures for our company and am surprised that you are taking "meds" for this stick. Using our "risk assessment" you would not be at risk because the needle was not a "contaminated" needle. Also, the stick was not a deep puncture and was not from a "body fluid filled device" (it was filled with medications). The only risk factor is that the patient is HIV +, but it sounds like no body fluid contact occurred. It might help to remember that HIV is not a very hardy virus and it takes a fair amount of exposure for infection to occur, unless you are immunocompromised. I would guess that your physician opted to recommend prophylaxis for risk management purposes as much as anything else, but the therapy is not without it's own issues! The CDC website has good info, as does APIC. I hope this will help you cope with all the fear, but I would not be too worried this time. You were smart to report it and follow up labs will let you get closure on this over time. Hang in there!