Threat of needle sticks!!

Epona · Jul 16, 2006

Thanks tridil2000. Yes.. actually I am a pateint. A heart patient and have been one for a long time. I am better now, but over the years have spent a lot of time in hospitals. I already have a BS in Comm. and Biology with a concentration on Medicine. I was going to be a Cardiologist when in college and decided to go the Journalism route. That field is not very rewarding. Now, with the knowledge I have gained as a patient AND as a student- I think an NP in Cardiology would be excellent for me. I do know first hand how it is to be the patient. I have been there, believe me.

I think why I ask all the nasty questions (poop, needle sticks, etc.) is because I used to work in a hospital as a medical correspondent. I worked with docs. and pats. everyday. I came down with a deadly viral infection that almost killed me. I lost 30 pounds, was bed ridden for two months, was in the hospital on life support for over a week and I lost EVERYTHING. Jobs, home, etc. Took me 3 years to recooperate and I still suffer lingering affects from the disease. I did not even work directly with patients, just interviewed them... and I got a disease where I almost died. Now you can see WHY I am somewhat afraid. My docs. told me they were pretty darn sure I contracted it while working in the hospital.

I think that is why I am hesitant. And now you can see why...

I think I am just going to go for it and let God guide me. I feel this is really a calling for me and I will muttle through the dangers. I have been through so much already... what the heck... it can only kill you right?? :smackingf

God be with me as I venture into Medicine...... best to all... Epona...

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

There are plenty of sick people in doctor's offices, too. Actually, they might be MORE sick because if they haven't started treatment yet, and without antibiotics or antivirals on board, they can be more contagious than those who are in the hospital.

I'm just saying that if you're so worried about getting a disease, you really should be no place near sick people. Period. There is no "safe" place to work in the medical field.

The way you phrased your posts before, you made it sound like you didn't want to do the dirty work because it disgusted you or it was below you. That's how most of us interpreted it.

Either way, I don't think you'll ever find what you're looking for in the medical field if you feel you can't be around sick people.

Epona · Jul 16, 2006

Thanks Gompers. The reason I did not want to handle the "nasty" stuff (if you just saw the above note I posted) is because I had worked in a hospital and contracted a deadly viral infection and almost died. That would be enough to scare anyone and I was not even working directly with patients. That is why I had the fears and that is the only reason. I used to have horses and shoveled many a scoop of manure and it never bothered me. Gave shots to the horse and tubes down his nostrils when he collicked. Never bothered me. Getting deathly ill and almost dying does bother me as it should bother anyone.

I guess you are not safe no matter what you do.. so you just go with it and hope for the best... I will do my time... and then go directly into my NP role and into practice. I am told as a Cardiac NP in an office you start IV's mostly and that's it (I got this directly from the NP in my heart docs. office). I can handle that.

Take care and thanks again for all the insight!! Epona

PANurseRN1 · Jul 16, 2006

Thanks. Nope. I am hoping that by doing the BSN and working for a year to get a little experience then going MSN, I will by-pass all that hospital stuff. I don't mind the hospital and don't mind helping folks, but as I mentioned wiping up the poop, vomit, pee, etc. is not my thing. I am thinking that in a university setting you will get some clinical esperience, but not a lot of time in the hospital as you would in a hospital diploma program for example. So hopefully I will not have a ton of clincial hours in a hospital by going the BSN university route. I have heard the nursing students there have less clinical time. I am probably sounding like an oger here.
You know, I am just asking here, do the doctors have to do this poop and vomit and pee cleaning?? OR is that pretty much slated just for the nurses?? As I mentioned earlier... I would just go the medical school route, but for health reasons, cannot do the 36 hour residency shifts that the docs. have to pull.
I love medicine and have loved it for a long time... I am really torn here...

Uh, without a lot of clinical time, how do you expect to get any expertise in working with patients.

Being blunt here: Do the nursing profession and future patients a favor. Find another occupation. If you're looking at NP because you can't cut it in med school (and med students/interns have to deal with tons of "icky" stuff), then it's already obvious you have no business being an NP.

PANurseRN1 · Jul 16, 2006

i was thinking more in the line of med assist.
i am in an np program now and have 20 years ed and cc experience. i really embarrass these people who want to walk right through from the bsn program. they know nothing and i have zero respect for them. i'm just being honest as well.
i would never want a doctor taking care of a pt who skipped their residency. i feel the same way about advanced practice nurses. you HAVE to get experience to know what's going on, and school alone doesn't cut it.
and no matter what letters follow my name, i would never let some one sit in their own vomit or feces. patients are people, and someday you too will be one.
tridil2000
rn bsn (msn student) cen ccrn

Exactly. I also have zero respect for the direct-entry NPs who have no clinical experience. I wouldn't let them take care of my artificial plant, let alone me/my family.

PANurseRN1 · Jul 16, 2006

Thanks Gompers. The reason I did not want to handle the "nasty" stuff (if you just saw the above note I posted) is because I had worked in a hospital and contracted a deadly viral infection and almost died. That would be enough to scare anyone and I was not even working directly with patients. That is why I had the fears and that is the only reason. I used to have horses and shoveled many a scoop of manure and it never bothered me. Gave shots to the horse and tubes down his nostrils when he collicked. Never bothered me. Getting deathly ill and almost dying does bother me as it should bother anyone.
I guess you are not safe no matter what you do.. so you just go with it and hope for the best... I will do my time... and then go directly into my NP role and into practice. I am told as a Cardiac NP in an office you start IV's mostly and that's it (I got this directly from the NP in my heart docs. office). I can handle that.
Take care and thanks again for all the insight!! Epona

Viral infections can be acquired anywhere, so unless it was proved conclusively that your contact with patients caused you to become ill, you can't really blame your former job on your illness.

You should really become more educated about what NPs do before you decide that's the job for you. You've got a very skewed image of an NP's practice.

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Jul 17, 2006

Thanks Gompers. The reason I did not want to handle the "nasty" stuff (if you just saw the above note I posted) is because I had worked in a hospital and contracted a deadly viral infection and almost died. That would be enough to scare anyone and I was not even working directly with patients. That is why I had the fears and that is the only reason. I used to have horses and shoveled many a scoop of manure and it never bothered me. Gave shots to the horse and tubes down his nostrils when he collicked. Never bothered me. Getting deathly ill and almost dying does bother me as it should bother anyone.
I guess you are not safe no matter what you do.. so you just go with it and hope for the best... I will do my time... and then go directly into my NP role and into practice. I am told as a Cardiac NP in an office you start IV's mostly and that's it (I got this directly from the NP in my heart docs. office). I can handle that.
Take care and thanks again for all the insight!! Epona

my good friend is a cardiac np. she puts swans in and a lines daily in ccu.

the rn will start the ivs in the dr's office. as an np, you will be expected to do a lot of other things. they do not need to hire an advanced practice np to start ivs! if that's all you'll be doing, you'll be grossly underpaid and in a whole lot of debt!

now, i just want to say that i am puzzled by your story. if you said you worked in a hospital AND were a patient yourself, how could you not know what nurses deal with?

you should follow around some nurses in different areas before you make the commitment. the schooling and clinicals are tough. if you think i'm being blunt here, wait till school! they'll chew you up and spit you out.

good luck & keep in touch!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2006

Thanks Gompers. The reason I did not want to handle the "nasty" stuff (if you just saw the above note I posted) is because I had worked in a hospital and contracted a deadly viral infection and almost died. That would be enough to scare anyone and I was not even working directly with patients. That is why I had the fears and that is the only reason. I used to have horses and shoveled many a scoop of manure and it never bothered me. Gave shots to the horse and tubes down his nostrils when he collicked. Never bothered me. Getting deathly ill and almost dying does bother me as it should bother anyone.
I guess you are not safe no matter what you do.. so you just go with it and hope for the best... I will do my time... and then go directly into my NP role and into practice. I am told as a Cardiac NP in an office you start IV's mostly and that's it (I got this directly from the NP in my heart docs. office). I can handle that.
Take care and thanks again for all the insight!! Epona

Many nurses do get sick on the job, not just those who handle the poop and the pee. But if you look at things statistically speaking, those who viruses and nearly die are rare.

I definately appreciate that you are being cautious and concerned, I would be too if I got that sick from a hospital.

There's risk in working with people on an intimate level, be it nursing, a day care work, or whatever.

Good luck.

skelley5 · Jul 17, 2006

I hear everydody talking about all hospitals have gone to the "needless" system. This is true, related to IV's, but you still have to give injections. It seems that everyone forgets that you can still get stuck by a dirty needle w/ something as simple as an insulin or heparin injection. I have been a nurse for 3 yrs on a critical care unit and I was stuck by a dirty needle last week. I was giving a pt as SQ heparin injection, and as I was going to close the safety device over the needle to put it in the sharps container, it stuck the tip of my index finger. I cannot describe the feeling that goes through your mind and body when this happens. I considered myself a careful and precautious person, just goes to show you that you can never be too careful. Just when you think it can't happen to you, that's when it will happen! My advice to you is, if you are worried about that one aspect of nursing, then you need to find another profession because chances are great that if you become a nurse, you will be stuck by a dirty needle. What I don't understand is the fact that you are so worried about being stuck by a dirty needle and haven't said anything about blood or other secretions that can enter your eyes, mouth, or other membranes that can infect you just like a dirty needle could. So, these are other things that you need to be concerned about because it happens everyday at every hospital.

Epona · Jul 17, 2006

Hi skelley5. Yes. You are right. This is what I have decided.

I will do my time in hospital rounds as a nursing student. I will do my time. When I graduate, I am going to get a job in a place OTHER than a hospital. Working in a hospital is not the end all. I have to do it for nursing school and do my time, but when I am done... I am done. No more.

Yes, you can get stuck anywhere, even a docs. office, but I do not want to work in a hospital for an extended period of time. That is not the setting I want to work in.

Thanks!!

Empress · Jul 17, 2006

I understand why you don't want to work in a hospital, but I would think the experience you will have working with cardiology patients within a hospital is unmatched anywhere else outpatient. And if you're ultimate goal is to be a cardiology NP, you need to hold yourself to a higher standard experience-wise.

Not to be mean, but I wouldn't be comfortable with a family member or myself seeing a specialty NP with little acute care experience and hesitant to deal with body fluids.

Epona · Jul 17, 2006

You make a good point Empress about the clincial experience. I am going to play it by ear. You are right, a Cardiac NP should have a fair amount of practical experience. I may just do the hospital rounds while in RN school, then get out and just work as an RN in a cardiac office. May not go all the way with NP. It will depend on how my hospital rounds go in RN school. I may just stop at RN and work in an office after school. I will play it by ear.

Thank you for the advice there...