Shocking story of the day

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Oncology.

We seem to have a little bit of a theme going on at allnurses with stories of horrible infection control breaches. I figured I would add my story into the mix.

Last night I was hanging out with one of my friends who is a nurse at a different hospital than I. I told her about how frustrated I was that I had stabbed myself with a clean needle drawing up a med on my last shift. She asked me if I gave the med in that syringe anyway. I looked at her like she had six heads and told her that of course I threw that out and started over. She told me that a nurse she works with did the same thing- BUT GAVE THE MED ANYWAY! She told me her reasoning was that she knew she was clean. My jaw nearly hit the floor.

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Specializes in ICU.

:eek:Wowww....yeah, that's pretty bad!!! Why do these things keep happening??? It's so frustrating!!

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Made me cringe! :/ ehhh!

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I have found that the worst infection control offenders are the MDs.

I have witnessed more nursing examples, but the truly shocking ones were committed by doctors.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Many of the people who are unaware that they have HIV or HCV are also certain that they are 'clean.' In reality, there is no way to really know what you have without getting tested.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I always put a drop of my blood on the needle before I give an injection. I figure after 30 years in nursing my blood should be able to kill any bug out there. Besides, you always check a babys' bottle temp by dropping a few dropps on your wrist- I think it only makes sense to test the patients IM meds by injection a little into your thumb.

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I always put a drop of my blood on the needle before I give an injection. I figure after 30 years in nursing my blood should be able to kill any bug out there. Besides, you always check a babys' bottle temp by dropping a few dropps on your wrist- I think it only makes sense to test the patients IM meds by injection a little into your thumb.

Love this!!!

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Perhaps some do not know that there are resident bacteria on your skin..and in certain areas such as your chest..the counts are even higher and there are different bacteria in different areas. In addition,they have discovered that even with a proper skin scrub of CHG or other agent.there are bacteria in the layers below the surface that inevitably you must pass through & in my case with a needle and scalpel to make a dermatotomy. It sounds like the nurse you mentioned was only thinking of bloodborne pathogens but why then even wash your hands if that is her rational.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

dear blondy - that is one for the Record Book Hall of Shame!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm still stuck on the fact that you draw up meds with sharps, I thought that was a long gone practice.

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Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Just gross.

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Specializes in Oncology.
I'm still stuck on the fact that you draw up meds with sharps, I thought that was a long gone practice.
We're all needle free to give the med to the patient, but I've never seen any set up that lets you get a med out of a vial without a needle.
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