6 weeks into school, I got stuck and i don't know what to do

deespoohbear · Oct 1, 2002

Sarah,

I would also be checking with whoever accrediated your school(NLN, I would think.) They would probably like to know about this act of stupidity on your instructor's behalf. Then I would be contacting OSHA and JCAHO. Plus, I would be on the phone with the Florida State Board of Health and the State Board of Nursing. Then I would fire off some letters to the editors of your local newspapers and be calling the local TV stations. Don't take this lying down. I would make so much noise they would PAY just to shut me up!! :devil: :devil: May try contacting the head of the university's board of directors. Also try your county's health officier. They maybe able to offer advice. Anyone else in the class who will back you up? Greater strength in numbers!! Hang in there!!!

globalRN · Oct 1, 2002

Sarah....you are doing the right thing...there is no way that this should ever have happened. The school is responsible for having an employee cause you to be injured. That director of nursing needs a good kick in the butt for all the sensitivity she showed.

I am so glad Youda is giving you all those followup contacts and information.....YOUDA ....you are a real role model for all of us nurses about standing up for each other and refusing to take any injustice lying down!!

Dear Sarah...you go girl!! Don't let them get away with what they are trying to do to you. But I agree with the others, you need legal counsel.

globalRN · Oct 1, 2002

oh...another thing....it could help your case to report the instructor and the school to the BON. If the BON finds the nurse negligent....you may have an easier legal case.

globalRN · Oct 1, 2002

oh...another thing....it could help your case to report the instructor and the school to the BON. If the BON finds the nurse negligent....you may have an easier legal case.

Sides, about time that idiot either stops nursing or goes back for a LONG refresher course

deespoohbear · Oct 1, 2002

Sarah,

I don't know if this link will be of any help, but maybe you could use it to report that excuse of an instructor!!

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/enforcement/enforce_howto.htm

Here is the link to the names of the Board of Nursing members for Florida:

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/nur_boardinfo.html

They would probably be interested in this!! :eek:

Youda · Oct 1, 2002

Thanks, GlobalRN. This one just got to me. Really upsets me that there is a student nurse somewhere crying. Not because she got stuck (that can be dealt with), but because she's being treated like crap by people who should be protecting her and guiding her. That sucks!

My attorney friend suggested that they are taking this approach to avoid liability. They're hoping Sarah just shuts-up and goes away. If they pay her medical expenses, it could be seen as an admission of guilt and responsibility. Then, the flood gates start to open. But, ironically, by refusing to pay the medical expenses, they gave her an excellent chance at proving damages (a verifiable and measureable loss) in a lawsuit. And with the financial loss, it makes it easier to get "pain and suffering" tacked on.

globalRN · Oct 1, 2002

I am sure you are right Youda: that's how the corporate world works but this STINKS.

And I have worked in places where BAD things happen.

So basically, one needs a lawyer to get involved to PROTECT one's self interest.

And the advice that she doesn't need to take any antivirals....hello!!! We are talking about clientele who belong to the disadvantaged here. Which rock did that witch crawl out from under?

Another thing....what kind of school lets their students do anything which exposes them to blood and body fluids WITHOUT making sure their Hep B vaccinations are completed?

Sarah, listen to what Youda has adviced...IMHO it is excellent advice. You could even ask for them to pay your way to another nursing school because how objective will they be after this?

Or you can keep them on a tight leash...and if they even look at you the wrong way....your legal counsel will sue for harassment.

When I see nurses treating nurses (including SNs) like this....nursing doesn't need any other enemies!!

Does not sound like a well organized school....time for NLN to take another look at them.

dianthe1013 · Oct 1, 2002

I have been stuck once, by a insulin syringe that belonged to my diabetic mother. She still uses lancets that do not retract, but - like someone said - only in a home environment.

Last year, a medical resident was stuck by a needle that had been used on my dad. Poor thing. It was her first accidental stick, and she was freaking out. The difference in her case, though, is that everyone at the hospital was behind her - they did a risk assessment consisting of a series of questions, as well as obtain consent from my dad for a rapid HIV test.

I have to say, my dad was more put out by the risk assessment than the request for the test. He was so embarrassed! Whenever the nurse asked a question about IV drug use or unprotected homosexual activity, he'd sputter and say, "But I'm a Baptist minister..."

Your school is insane. There is no reason for this crap. You said the Director of the program referenced the fact that a sharps container was available onsite for use... Did you remind her that, had that been the case, you guys wouldn't have been shoving recapped lancets in a LATEX GLOVE??

Good luck, Sarah. My classmates and I are thinking about you.

PS - My microbiology professor wants to have your instructor fired herself. She was INCENSED.

Donna :)

Youda · Oct 1, 2002

Research is fun! Well, anyway, more information about needlesticks.

Federal laws and OSHA now require the use of retractable and safety syringes. Any school, facility, hospital not already in compliance can be fined substantial amounts $$$$. OSHA says it depends on reports of noncompliance for immediate problems, but will eventually survey all institutions. So, since this school was using the lancets, they're already in trouble. :)

Various case laws have supported lawsuits for "anxiety of acquiring a disease" after a needlestick. You can sue just on having a "fear" of getting a disease after a needlestick.

http://echo.forensicpanel.com/1996/12/1/foruntested.html

New Federal laws require that all needlesticks be reported to OSHA. Your school is required by law to report this. If they haven't . . . a big fine $$$$$ (contact OSHA to file a complaint)

Pres. Clinton signed into law in 2000 the The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Compliance across the country *IS* being enforced.

http://www.med.virginia.edu/medcntr/centers/epinet/legart.html

http://www.aacn.org/aacn/pubpolcy.nsf/ad0ca3b3bdb4f33288256981006fa692/acf7040f136eaa7c88256a42006936a5?OpenDocument=#Needle%20Safety

Many needlestick incidents I'm reading about, the facility provided counseling for the emotional impact and worry associated with a stick. Also most institutions and schools have published protocols for postexposure. Further evidence of the negligence of this school.

------------

More evidence of negligence by the school in preventing the injury and violations of many, many Florida and National needlestick legislation!

Another one:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/2000-108.html

OSHA

The current Federal standard for addressing needlestick injuries among health care workers is the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard [29 CFR 1910.1030; 56 Fed. Reg.†† 64004 (1991)], which has been in effect since 1992. The standard applies to all occupational exposures to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Notable elements of this standard require the following:

A written exposure control plan designed to eliminate or minimize worker exposure to bloodborne pathogens

Compliance with universal precautions (an infection control principle that treats all human blood and other potentially infectious materials as infectious)

Engineering controls and work practices to eliminate or minimize worker exposure

Personal protective equipment (if engineering controls and work practices do not eliminate occupational exposures)

Prohibition of bending, recapping, or removing contaminated needles and other sharps unless such an act is required by a specific procedure or has no feasible alternative

Prohibition of shearing or breaking contaminated needles (OSHA defines contaminated as the presence or the reasonably anticipated presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item or surface)

Free hepatitis B vaccinations offered to workers with occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens

Worker training in appropriate engineering controls and work practices

Post-exposure evaluation and followup, including post-exposure prophylaxis when appropriate

**Because of recent changes and pending legislation in the area of needlestick injury prevention, readers are urged to check with current Federal as well as State regulations.

----------------------

Sarah, if you want to pursue this, I think you could really stick it to your school. (forgive the pun, but I couldn't resist). :)

beaRNwhenIgroUP · Oct 1, 2002

again...i am so grateful for your help!!!! i am still waiting to hear from that referral agency...i filled out the request right away!!!!

i am so grateful to you, youda - i feel empowered!!!!

i am most def gonig to pursue every avenue available until i come up w/ the best plan!!!! thanks to you that should be completely doable!

(i have 2 tests tomorrow so i'm mostly studying right now

:rolleyes: )

youda, you and the others have been such an a amazing source of support (more than i can say for my school:angryfire) and if i ever questioned my career goals y'all have reminded me that i am going into nursing for the people, the advocacy, the opportunity to help people grow and learn and you all have been such great models...

thanks, again, for everything :)

hope i don't sound too redundant!

shabookitty · Oct 5, 2002

Sarah

I noticed way earlier you mentioned your school stated "what if we had to pay for every needlestick...yadda yadda"

Well, #@*! how may times has it happened? Are you a loner case? Or is this something common in your nursing school? Switch schools! I wouldn't trust them no further than you could throw them! Besides...I wouldn't give another red cent that college.

I am sorry for you (((Sarah))) I know this is the last thing you need while studying. While in nursing school, I work in the lab drawing blood...and I go to nursing homes...where there are numerous draws! Babe, handle everything with GLOVES. Even vaccutainer tubes...even if you have a full tube of whatever of speciman...you never know what is on the outside! And yes, it was your instructors responsiblity to provide you with sharps. They make sharp containers the size of Texas! So, it dosen't matter how many sticks you have...they must be disposed of properly. I have cute mini ones!

Youda · Oct 6, 2002

I'm always on the rampage about something, that is why I'm so popular with admin! NOT.

Where I worked, they only had containers "the size of Texas" so dopey nurses would take those thin plastic disposable drinking cups with them to drop sharps in. I'd find sharps all over the med room. Sharps in beds with patients. Contaminated sharps spilled out on the med cart . . . I finally raised such a ruckus that admin bought those "cute mini ones" to take down the hall.

Does anyone else have any needle-stick horror stories?