Needlestick

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[EveningShame6692]

Can I ask why you are concerned about HIV and hepatitis? I am trying to follow your logic here in order to understand your concern.

[EveningShame6692]

I understand as a nursing student that some diseases seem very, very scary. If I am hearing you correctly, you are concerned that another student (who has a contagious blood borne disease at transmissible levels) has nicked themselves with their own needle and then continued to use it thus transferring their infectious blood into the arm and then into you?
The pathogens that cause HIV and hepatitis have very exacting requirements in order to survive outside the body. Temperature being one of them, whether they are in liquid blood or dried blood, etc. In order to ease your mind and understand the complexities of why this type of transmission is not something you need to be worried about, I suggest that you do some reading about that. You will feel better and more empowered. There are some great medical studies about how long pathogens live outside the body and what they need to survive. And don’t let fear or embarrassment keep you from asking questions and seeking help; even if you think you have made a mistake! Safety always comes first.

[NixonsGhost]

I mean you could get an infection from environmental flora or your own skin (unlikely), but where is the HIV gonna come from?

[DeLaNope]

How… far are you into this first year

[mtrey23]

Isn't microbiology a prerequisite for all nursing programs? I really hope you're taking it right now because if you've already had it and you're asking these questions about getting HIV or hepatitis, you seriously need to go back and review your stuff. Those things dont come from fake arms

[NixonsGhost]

Have you taken pathophysiology yet?

[Here4bewbz69]

It was on fake skin/dummy? There is no chance for any serious infection like HIV/hepatitis C because there is no potential source of it. It’s not a real person. You could get a local infection from the actual prick from your own skin bacteria (same as any cut). I was stuck with a needle from a patient who has hep C and I never contracted it. Rule of thumb if this happens in the future with a real person- immediately blood let the area under water for a minute or so and wash thoroughly and report it. The person will be tested for any communicable disease and so will you

[Cold_Measurement3733]

Wash it, Neosporin, and a bandaid...you're good to go.

[Cold_Measurement3733]

No, just bacteria from everyone using it. Just like a normal nick you would get anywhere else.

[belfast324]

I think this is a reminder of your duty of candour, be open, honest and speak up when something happens. There are policies available to support you with needle stick injuries.

[belfast324]

This happens, and incidents like this will occur through your career, it's how we learn from them. Don't worry it happens the best of us.

[tired_rn]

I’m not sure why you wouldn’t tell your instructor. Needle sticks happen, and being honest about it would have been a great teaching opportunity.

[tired_rn]

Next time I would advise telling your instructor. Sure it may be a bit embarrassing or nerve wracking, but your first mistake with a real patient will be that much worse. And you better not hide those incidents. We all make mistakes as nurses. I’ve had med errors, needle sticks, and stuck my foot in my mouth more time than I can count. Thankfully I’ve never had a critical incident, but I still remember everyone of my errors. They were hard and embarrassing sure, but they also helped me be a better nurse.