Recent anxiety/exposure

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Apr 18, 2018

You need to move. On, as I believe you said it was an iv catheter

DextersDisciple, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2018

No needle involved = no anxiety necessary

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2018

I'm confused. An IV catheter, which is not a sharp and has no way to puncture your skin, was removed by the patient and the patient bled a little with its removal? How is this not completely normal?

reediculous · Apr 18, 2018

Sorry confusing post ! The IV catheter splattered blood out as I was taking it out. No needle involved just splatter. Again, I don't know if anything got on me but the " what if" is scaring me!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2018

Sorry confusing post ! The IV catheter splattered blood out as I was taking it out. No needle involved just splatter. Again, I don't know if anything got on me but the " what if" is scaring me!

This is a normal thing to happen when an IV is removed. That's why you hold gauze on the site as you're removing the catheter but, again, a drop of blood getting on your intact skin literally poses 0 risk. There are no "what ifs" to be concerned with.

cardiacfreak, ADN · Apr 18, 2018

I work in a wellness office where my demographic is mainly healthy folks just need an IV or b12 shot. Recently I had someone trying to help me take the tape off post IV and the whole IV catheter came out of the arm. I noticed blood on his wrist so I raced to the bathroom to make sure there wasn't anything on me and I didn't see anything. I did ask the patient if they had anything and they said no. Since that incident though my "what if's" have been floating in my head( in my eye or mouth) to the point where I can barely function I'm so terrified. I've been a nurse for 7 years and have had needles sticks but for some reason this has really gotten to me. I did blood work a week after but keep reading it may be too soon to show. Please tell me I'm crazy and need to just move on. It's affecting my daily life!

Your crazy, and need to just move on.

Sorry....I couldn't help myself.

Sour Lemon · Apr 18, 2018

I work in a wellness office where my demographic is mainly healthy folks just need an IV or b12 shot. Recently I had someone trying to help me take the tape off post IV and the whole IV catheter came out of the arm. I noticed blood on his wrist so I raced to the bathroom to make sure there wasn't anything on me and I didn't see anything. I did ask the patient if they had anything and they said no. Since that incident though my "what if's" have been floating in my head( in my eye or mouth) to the point where I can barely function I'm so terrified. I've been a nurse for 7 years and have had needles sticks but for some reason this has really gotten to me. I did blood work a week after but keep reading it may be too soon to show. Please tell me I'm crazy and need to just move on. It's affecting my daily life!

I don't understand how someone can go to school for nursing and react this way to this type of situation. Are you trying to tell us something with your choice of user name?

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2018

Yep, what everyone else has said. Hopefully you get over it soon, because you rushing to the bathroom to check out yourself versus taking care of the patient (just based on how your post is worded) is definitely not the way to go.