Specializes in Assessment coordinator. Blood can also contaminate sharps. from the Sackler School of Medicine, and a residency at Huntington Memorial Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Southern California. Wash the wound with soap and water. Your provider will ask you when the injury happened. 7 Easy Ways to Figure Out Your Blood Type (With or Without a Test). Healthcare workers are at risk for contracting diseases such as Hepatitis B or C as well as HIV - which can be terrifying. Avoid recapping needles. 2. Disease screenings don't show positives immediately after a person has been infected! Wear solid footwear when walking through or working in areas known for drug-use, such as parks, beaches, public transportation hubs, etc. :0 There's very few diseases a dog can give you and if that dog had one, chances are you would know it. This article has been viewed 399,756 times. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Bloodborne Infectious Diseases (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B & C), General Resources on Bloodborne Pathogens, Preventing Needlesticks and Sharps Injuries, Engineering Controls and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Occupations Affected by Bloodborne Infectious Diseases, Overview of State Needle Safety Legislation, State-by-State Provisions of State Needle Safety Legislation, Table: Comparison of State Needle Safety Legislation, Universal Precautions for Preventing Transmission of Bloodborne Infections, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Call the Clinicians Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Line at 1-888-448-4911. Stop what you are doing immediately! Postexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Hepatitis B Virus Infection If this test is positive, it is then confirmed with a much more sensitive test for HIV antibodies called Western Blot. It's closed now, I can't open it back up. Show Less. It sounds right. What Should I Do If I Get a Needlestick? - The Hospitalist The dangers are greater if you use drugs and share needles with someone who has a disease. Gabriel J. But for hepatitis B, the odds can be as high as nearly 1 in 3 if the worker hasnt been vaccinated for it. I have no idea if I should She had no prior job training before getting the job, as she got it through a mutual friend, so was was trained on the job. I know that's small comfort when you're on the wrong end of the needlestick. Use puncture- and liquid- proof boxes in each patient care area. Have any of you ever been stuck by a needle and not felt it? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 needle stick injuries occur each year, many going unreported. Bizarre Sim question. if the lab is not staffed, there would be no way to obtain a STAT anything. The nurse who I saw said I shouldn't worry too much b/c an insulin needle has a very small bore and probably doesn't hold enough blood to cause an infectious process after one exposure. Sharps can include other medical supplies, such as syringes, scalpels and lancets, and glass from broken equipment. Of the 549 injuries that could be characterized, 82 percent occurred extraorally during chairside procedures, cleanup or lab work, and 33 percent occurred during restorative procedures. Our Child Life staff members recognize that hospitalized children still need opportunities to just be kids. To learn how to avoid needlesticks, keep reading! Posted July 18, 2007. Some children may be exposed to needles and at home (for example, if a family member injects insulin), othersmay find a needle left in a park or other public place. This study guide will help you focus your time on what's most important. Wtf? I bled very little, but none the less it broke skin. Bled a ton, but cleaned and put on bandaid. 1. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? It didn't happen until I was a resident. However, these tools arent optimal for stick and poke tattoos since they dont retain ink as well as tattoo needles and arent as sharp. Talk to a doctor now . 2009;23(22):41-44. The clinic may also want to test your blood (titer levels,etc). Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. will experience that sinking feeling of dread when the sharp end of a used needle accidentally punctures their skin with a potential to cause infection . So, yesterday, a medic who rode with us to the hospital while transporting an 87yro female from nursing home, SOB with wheezes. Back to Get the wound cleaned and treated. I inadvertently pricked myself on a needle I had used to inject an HIV-positive patientthough I was unaware of her status at that time. Updated U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis I met with employee health two weeks later to have more blood taken and was told that the patient was negative for anything serious (hepc, HIV). In many settings, nurses draw their own labs anyway. You can then dry the wound with a sterile material and cover it with a dressing. But they said, "its night shift, the lab is not staffed due to budget cuts". By using our site, you agree to our. I Poked Myself With My Dog's Insulin Needle. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. You should report the incident as soon as you can and do as you are directed. 2009;39(5):22-28. I understand it may depend on the hospital policy, but I just want a baseline knowledge of what steps is to be done immediately after it happens. Nearly 300,000 U.S. healthcare workers experience occupational percutaneous injuries annually. Free shipping for many products! Communities > Hepatitis C > I poked myself with a new insulin pen cartridge, but the pen had been used nursepamela. If your doctor decides youre at risk for infection, they can treat it several ways: 4. Moreover, they are imprecise and less hygienic. Needle Stick Injuries - What You Need to Know - Drugs.com Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Prime the pen, and then dial up the correct dose. By using the site you agree to our Privacy, Cookies, and Terms of Service Policies. Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU. I was sent downstairs to the ER where I had blood work taken. Nursing. I have no idea when that needle was used since I kept them in a small bag till I could get the hazard box for them. I scrub up real good and go to my supervisor, she sends me to the ER. About the author. I washed it with soap, put Help your employer select and evaluate devices with safety features. Injuries from needles used in medical procedures are sometimes called needle-stick or sharps injuries. 50% off with $15/month membership. I'm a second semester nursing student, and I worry this might happen to me and would at least like to be prepared and know what to do for both the patient and I. of Health and Human Services, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Deal-With-a-Needle-Stick-Injury-at-Work-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Deal-With-a-Needle-Stick-Injury-at-Work-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8f\/Deal-With-a-Needle-Stick-Injury-at-Work-Step-5-Version-3.jpg\/aid916894-v4-728px-Deal-With-a-Needle-Stick-Injury-at-Work-Step-5-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"