punished for a needle stick?

fab4fan · Apr 22, 2005

I have heard of it if the nurse was not following hospital policy (e.g. recapping a needle).

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 22, 2005

I have heard of it if the nurse was not following hospital policy (e.g. recapping a needle).

Same here.

fergus51 · Apr 22, 2005

Same here.

ktwlpn, LPN · Apr 22, 2005

It was nothing along those lines-she was actually stuck with a lancet.We don't have pens for ours-we have always just used the lancet alone and she somehow pricked the side of a finger as she was disposing of it....Others have gotten needle sticks without receiving any type of warning...I think if we had the appropriate equipment for our residents this would not have happened...

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 22, 2005

If the lancet is intended to be used in a pen, this should be pointed out to the DON. If she shrugs it off, then it should be pointed out to the state.

pricklypear · Apr 22, 2005

It sounds like your co-worker is being punished for something your institution should be punished for! They're being cheap and not providing you with proper equipment. What exactly did they say she did wrong?

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Apr 22, 2005

sounds personal to me :rolleyes: . this more than likely is some sort of power struggle between someone in management & this nsg. if so...how sad .

cheers!

moe

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Apr 22, 2005

Agree with other posters, she is being punished for all of the wrong reasons. Facility needs reported for not having proper equiptment. I hope your friend follows the protocol and has all of the tests. Good luck to her and let us know what happens.

career seeker · Apr 23, 2005

I dont know what state you are in but the state of Alaska OSHA requires that employers provide safety-engineered sharps devices to employees. If they do not provide these they may be out of compliance with OSHA...big trouble!

kitty=^..^=cat · Apr 23, 2005

I dont know what state you are in but the state of Alaska OSHA requires that employers provide safety-engineered sharps devices to employees. If they do not provide these they may be out of compliance with OSHA...big trouble!

OSHA everywhere requires safety-engineered devices!!! I've never used the mad-as-h*ll smilie before, but :angryfire !!!! :angryfire !!!!

What's your setting? Hospital? LTC?

Who's responsible for Infection Control where you work? If that person is an RN, she should be drawn and quartered and answering to the Boards of Health and Nursing in your state for allowing such a dangerous situation to exist.

Who "validates" you for reimbursement from M'Care? Are you JCAHO accredited? CMS?

Where is your CNO??

Some states would require that a root-cause analysis be done to correct process errors -- Does your state have mandatory reporting?

And there are no pens available??? Unbelievable.

I hope that somehow this current situation can quickly lead to change --

=^..^=

lady_jezebel · Apr 23, 2005

OSHA everywhere requires safety-engineered devices!!! I've never used the mad-as-h*ll smilie before, but :angryfire !!!! :angryfire !!!!
What's your setting? Hospital? LTC?
Who's responsible for Infection Control where you work? If that person is an RN, she should be drawn and quartered and answering to the Boards of Health and Nursing in your state for allowing such a dangerous situation to exist.
Who "validates" you for reimbursement from M'Care? Are you JCAHO accredited? CMS?
Where is your CNO??
Some states would require that a root-cause analysis be done to correct process errors -- Does your state have mandatory reporting?
And there are no pens available??? Unbelievable.
I hope that somehow this current situation can quickly lead to change --
=^..^=

I second all that! :angryfire