Worst case scenario needle stick

Published

Yep

After reading about other people panicking on allnurses about the cursed needle stick....I can finally join the club.

Unfortunately.

These are the facts:

1. drawing labs with a butterfly, and about to retract

2. Patient moved unexpectedly and rapidly

3. needle pierced my hand

4. I was wearing gloves

5. I bled a lot under my gloves, indicating a deeper stick

6. Patient was a confirmed HIV+ with fairly high viral load according to last labs

7. Patient was already confirmed Hep C+

8. I started antiviral HIV meds within an hour and a half after incident

9. There are no prophylaxis meds for hep C

10. The labs were redrawn anyways on the patient (but not holding hope for a previous mistake)

10. I already know the statistics, as I was counseled heavily at work

My question is, how do I sleep at night, I am so so so upset, the kind of upset that makes you want to "turn back to 5" and crawl into your mom's lap and cry

Any support welcome

Specializes in ER.

3 month check in ( I always hesitate to update such an old used up thread, so apologies in advance, but I promised)

HIV Western Blot: NEGATIVE

Hep C RNA (PCR): NEGATIVE

SGPT - 15 ( guess they test just in case)

Looking good~!

The next time I will force myself to update this, will be next year.

They are no longer going to do the Hep C PCR test, from now on they will be just testing for antibodies. I guess this means I graduate and I am on my way to being declared free and healthy! (hopefully not a way to cut costs though...)

YEAH !!!!!:hug: :anpom: :anpom: :anpom: :anpom: :anpom: :anpom: :rckn: :hpygrp: *wine :cheers:

Specializes in Med/Surg.

Happy to hear this! Please continue to update us! We are here for you :)

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Wonderful news! :hug:

Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.

*wine

Great news. I'll have a drink for you (been looking for an excuse al day ;) )

Specializes in ER.

Wow, 6 months have passed already.

This time they tested:

HCV -PCR/RNA

HCV antibodies

HIV western blot

Liver profile

The results are all negative and normal

My next and final test is in June. I feel like an old pro at this :)

Employee health had to actually chase me down this time to come get the blood drawn,

(before I was counting the days until the next draw so I could find out the results, a nervous bundle of wreck that I was)

I was re-reading this entire thread, and remain deeply touched about the support and community found here

Thanks everyone!

Specializes in Med/Surg.

That is absolutely wonderful news! We will continue to pray for you and hope for the best!

Specializes in critical care, PACU.

I am so glad that they have all been negative. Thank god!

Specializes in Geriatrics, Hospice, Palliative Care.

Yippee!!!!! I am so very happy for you!!!!!

I am glad to hear everything has come back neg. You have come so far already. Please keep us updated. :nurse:

:yelclap::jester::w00t::D *hugs* So glad this is working out for you. Stay strong!

I read this thread and it threw me back. Around the same time you had a needle stick, I did too. My results came back negative at the 6mo mark... I'm glad to see that you are negative too.

+ Join the Discussion