how should this situation be handled?

[Ms.RN]

a staff from different department other than nursing took out an insulin syringe from the med cart and started playing with a nurse and accidently poked her on the arm. how do you think this situation needs to be handled?

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

As for why blood testing; even if the plunger was not deployed I would hope that her blood sugar was being monitored.

[whodatnurse]

Playing with a NEEDLE??? And this person is employed in health care?!?!?!

[shellsgogreen]

if this is how this nurse treats a coworker, i'm wondering how she "treats" her patients?

[megananne7]

if this is how this nurse treats a coworker, i'm wondering how she "treats" her patients?

what? the nurse is the innocent party in this incident.

[Jules A, MSN]

As for why blood testing; even if the plunger was not deployed I would hope that her blood sugar was being monitored.

OMG did it have insulin in it? That would have to be a deadly weapon etc. I read into the OP that the nurse just grabbed a clean needle and started playing around with it.

[shellsgogreen]

What? The nurse is the innocent party in this incident.

Of course she is. I'm talking about the other staff member; the one who poked her with a syringe.

[Atheos]

as noted in the "i was slapped by a doctor" thread this is BATTERY, and, if maliciousness could be proved, may rise to criminal rather than misdeamenor (sp).....especially if it was a DIRTY needle.......but no matter how you slice it, the nurse whose responsibility it was to lock the cart is going to be in trouble......the "attacker" should be fired, and criminally charged

I think you mean Felonious. A misdemeanor is also a crime. Of course some states are different with the naming, but they would be most likely be charged with Assault and Battery. The assault (or threat) being the prelude to the poking when she was saying stop. Also, they do not necessarily have to prove maliciousness, all they have to prove is that the employee is aware that dirty needles are dangerous and that will make her behavior reckless.

Reckless endangerment and Assualt/Battery combined most likely could be tried as felonies if the DA was so inclined. In a case like this though it seems they would take their cue from the actual 'victim.' Sometimes accidents are just that. Depends on the DA.

Certainly they should terminate offender (the one with the needle). If the victim was not involved in the horseplay then the employer also is liable for the cost of any testing or other medical related costs, unless she left the med cart unlocked...

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I'm confused. Ms.RN are you the OP or is it Graduatenurse? or do you two work together?

Anyway..how did the person get access to the needle? We keep them locked in the med cart or supply room that the nurses only have keys to. the person injecting the nurse needs to be fired. The person getting the needle stick or letting the person into the cart or access to the needles needs something too... ???

[guesshu_08]

well. it should be reported to our superior for future purposes. this incident should not be overlook, We Nurse are expected to act, react and be a role model to all. even thought we have excusses. as stated to our responsibility. we cannot commit any mistakes..in all circumstances.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

The person who did the poking was not in the nursing department from what I understand. The opener said the person who is an employee of the facility opened the med cart and withdrew an insulin syringe. I would imagine that the syringe was clean because it would not be in the med-cart otherwise. and It would not have insulin in it because it needs to be drawn up right before injection time.

However this all sounds weird that an employee would just wonder up to a med cart and withdraw a sharp and decide to threaten another employee with it.... but I am not a witness so I wouldnt know

[pattymac]

I believe the testing is done as a baseline. Not because they thought the needle was "dirty" but because the person that was stuck might later contract something (infection, etc.) and that way no one would wonder whether or not it had anything to do with that particular stick. Just the hospital being proactive I would think. Plus you never know...it's entirely possible the needle was somehow contaminated and no one could tell. What a ridiculous situation....why are people so stupid?

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

This sounds like it happened in a LTC center. I'm willing to be the nurse who got the stick might have been on that cart. If so, I bet she gets written up too for leaving the cart unlocked or something like that.

Since we weren't there...hard to say what should happen. Should that nurse file with the police? Did it start out agressive?

Lots of ???

OP...what happened? You can't leave us hanging!