mar1981

Really? We are talking about nurses here. I have heard a similar argument about rather or not gay nurses should be allowed to care for patients. These are suppose to be professionals, well educated in the field and some people still worry about this stuff. If I need care I am not worried if its a man, woman, gay, straight, etc.

A few months on here I asked if you would always feel a needlestick in the hand (like a insulin syringe). I was told by some friends who are veteran nurses in my family that "yes, without a doubt" you would feel it. When I posted it on here though, some replied that you can be stuck and not know it. If this is the case should'nt annual hiv and hcv testing be done of all nurses?

Can anyone tell me if you get stuck in the fingers with a insulin syringe (that was the only place possible for me with my grandmother) if you would usually always feel the stick and/or bleed in that area?

Thanks everyone for the replies...althought I must admit I am still confused. I talked with my mom's friend who is a nurse and has been for 18 years. She stated that with a insulin syringe in the hand that I would feel it for sure. She said "its happened to me several times and unless you have a medical condition such as neuropathy you would have felt the needle in your finger." She went on to remind me that the fingers are one of the most sensitive parts of the body and that if still in doubt I should take a sterile needle, alcohol swab and try it in my finger. It makes sense but now I am reading that some of you have been stuck and not felt it. That is scary.

I have been seriously considering going into nursing after taking a EMT class first. But to be honest now am starting to question if this would be the right decision on my part. I have been helping to take care of my grandmother who has recieved many blood transfusions in her lifetime. She is diabetic and as such I give her the insulin shots. I usually keep my eye on the needle at all times after I give the injections of insulin but I lost the cap on the needle, could not find it and as such tried wrapping it in a paper towel. I took the needle bent it back on the barrel of the syringe and rewrapped it real good using tape. Later on I began to question if I was careful enough wrapping the syringe to ensure I was not stuck because I lost site of it and my fingers were in the area of the needle. So here are my questions. 1) Can you be stuck in the hand-fingers with a syringe and not know it? Would you usually always feel it and would there usually always be blood when stuck in the fingers? 2) On a needlestick injury does the skin have to be cut all the way to the point of bleeding to allow for transmission of HCV, HBV, HIV? 3) Even being careful, do most nurses get a needlestick injury at some point in their careers?