Stuck myself with a subcutaneous needles after giving pt heparin injection

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Specializes in MED-SURG.

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I tried to pushed the guard after giving my patient a heparin injection, and stuck my finger. I bled, so I squeezed as much blood out as I can and then washed it with soap and water and alcohol. I looked at pt chart, he was negative for HIV on his recent blood test on 7/3 , non reactive to HEP A B C on 12/26/2021. I had my Hep B vaccine and my titer. The pt has been homeless. How likely is it that I would contracted something? I should have reported and followed exposure protocol, but since I am new to the unit and the chance of me being ridiculed and being talked about at huddle makes me not wanted to let my charge nurse know (It happened to my coworkers before) and then it is kinda too late now. ??

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

When did the stick happen? I would still report it because you need to follow your facility’s policy and procedure. What the nurse manager may or may not do during a huddle is a completely separate issue. 

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Specializes in MED-SURG.

It happened this morning. I feel like since I waited this long to report, they would make me feel even more guilty for something I didn't want to happen.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Nope nope nope. You’re within 24 hours. Report it. You’re only protecting yourself

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First of all, I am so sorry! Those heparin and lovenox safety mechanisms are garbage because you can’t engage it with just one hand. So dumb. 

I’m a new RN and I had a needle stick injury recently with a SubQ insulin pen - went through the pt’s arm and into my finger because he was thin but refused a belly poke. I had no idea the needle was long enough to do that on those autopens. 

Pt was covered in prison tats, a previous IV drug user, and unknown HIV status. I was pooping bricks, but thankfully I work in an environment that is very supportive and I reported immediately. Honestly I would not work on a place where I feel saving face is more important than my safety. Everything turned out OK in the end, he was neg for everything on the blood work they did in response to my report.

Occupational health says the deeper the puncture, the greater the risk (obviously). They also said the incidents of issues after a needle stick injury are very rare, I think she said less than 2% of all needle sticks result anything. 

If your pt was somewhat recently negative for everything you mentioned, you are very likely fine. I would still report it tho. Go straight to occupation health at your facility if you’d like. Nobody else on your unit has to know. 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Irregardless of how how co-workers would treat this in huddle you must follow your facilities policies and procedures regarding needle sticks. This allow for necessary testing of the patient prior to discharge. It also allows for the start of post exposure prophalaxsis when the patient' s HIV status is unknown or not obtainable for some reason. If you wait to long and develope Hep B or HIV you would then have to prove when you got stuck. If going to your charge nurse is problematic for you go to employee health and they will take care of everything.  

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What's this, OMG sorry this happened to you, but I agree with everyone else here.  I would have reported it just in case patient has something else that you don't even know about.  Better to be safe. 

Never mind what haters say

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On 7/5/2022 at 12:57 PM, Starburst said:

stuck-needle-report.jpg.339c9e62f1976cf8a843571a57268aa6.jpg

I tried to pushed the guard after giving my patient a heparin injection, and stuck my finger. I bled, so I squeezed as much blood out as I can and then washed it with soap and water and alcohol. I looked at pt chart, he was negative for HIV on his recent blood test on 7/3 , non reactive to HEP A B C on 12/26/2021. I had my Hep B vaccine and my titer. The pt has been homeless. How likely is it that I would contracted something? I should have reported and followed exposure protocol, but since I am new to the unit and the chance of me being ridiculed and being talked about at huddle makes me not wanted to let my charge nurse know (It happened to my coworkers before) and then it is kinda too late now. ??

Happened to me years ago. Same, no HIV etc... I didn't report it. I was scared of being ridiculed as well. I was new and I guess I was already being judged for being new.

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15 minutes ago, Nurse Pompom said:

I was new and I guess I was already being judged for being new.

What in the H-E-Double hockey sticks are they telling you in nursing school? I have worked in some pretty toxic environments but in nearly 40 years of doing this have never heard anyone being ridiculed for a needle stick. ?

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