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
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!
LaughingRN
231 Posts
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...)