What should I do - brush with Hepatitis

[joon]

I am a 1st year nursing student (second semester). I have had the 1st & 2nd round of Hepatitis B immuniztions (and need to get the 3rd soon). In clinical last Wednesday, I was helping/observing in pre-op. This particular patient was getting a port put in for chemo administration and also stated that she was a hepatitis carrier (But I don't know what type - assuming B or C).

Anyway - She was a hard stick and it took 3 different nurses to get her IV in. After the second attempt, the nurse pulled the cath out (attached to the IV tubing) and threw it on her bed so she could quickly try to start another one. I guess since I'm still so new I was very stupid and not thinking about proceedure, in trying to help, pick it up to unattach the catheter from the IV tubing WITHOUT gloves on! I got some of her blood on my bare hands. As far as I know I didn't have any cuts or open sores where I saw blood, but I am a nail bitter (nerves from nursing school) - and occasionally have some open spots around my cuticles. I went to the sink within the next minute and washed my hand a couple of times but now I am scared! I am hoping I am OK -

Have any of you experienced nurses had similar experiences? I didn't say anything to my instructor because, at the time, I wasn't thinking about the seriousness of the whole situation. Now that I've had time to ponder it - I am freaked out. If it's Hep B - I would assume I am probably ok because I've had 2 of the 3 doses of the immunization - but what about C? I am just trying to get a fair and "experienced" opinion from all of you out there!

does anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!!!!

[Dinith88]

I am a 1st year nursing student (second semester). I have had the 1st & 2nd round of Hepatitis B immuniztions (and need to get the 3rd soon). In clinical last Wednesday, I was helping/observing in pre-op. This particular patient was getting a port put in for chemo administration and also stated that she was a hepatitis carrier (But I don't know what type - assuming B or C).

Anyway - She was a hard stick and it took 3 different nurses to get her IV in. After the second attempt, the nurse pulled the cath out (attached to the IV tubing) and threw it on her bed so she could quickly try to start another one. I guess since I'm still so new I was very stupid and not thinking about proceedure, in trying to help, pick it up to unattach the catheter from the IV tubing WITHOUT gloves on! I got some of her blood on my bare hands. As far as I know I didn't have any cuts or open sores where I saw blood, but I am a nail bitter (nerves from nursing school) - and occasionally have some open spots around my cuticles. I went to the sink within the next minute and washed my hand a couple of times but now I am scared! I am hoping I am OK -

Have any of you experienced nurses had similar experiences? I didn't say anything to my instructor because, at the time, I wasn't thinking about the seriousness of the whole situation. Now that I've had time to ponder it - I am freaked out. If it's Hep B - I would assume I am probably ok because I've had 2 of the 3 doses of the immunization - but what about C? I am just trying to get a fair and "experienced" opinion from all of you out there!

does anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!!!!

You're freaking out needlessly...you'll be fine. If you're sure you didnt smear the blood into an open area, and washed your hands 'within a minute' your chances of being ok are 99.999%. If you absoluetely wont rest well at night, you'll have to go get titers drawn...then again in a few weeks...then again(i think) after a few months.

You do need your student-nurse butt spanked for not reporting it right away! :) ...because then all of this exposure/titer stuff would be covered and paid for. I bet that now, if you elect to have labs drawn, you'll be spending out of pocket. Also, if yoiu still have access to patient's records you can look into what type of Hepatitis the pt had. Again, if it's been awhile this may be a moot point.

Again...you'll be fine :)