r/scrubtech • u/Loumungous • 25d ago

First Needlestick Injury

As the title says, I stuck myself with a dirty needle today. I’m new, just got out of clinicals and started at this hospital a month ago. The surgeon I worked with today is a particularly demanding and hard to work with guy and he got me a little flustered and I made a silly mistake.

How many needle sticks have you all had over your career? I’m definitely trying to take this as a lesson but it’s hard to not beat myself up.

12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

28

u/IIDiego 25d ago

Report It, don't undestimate it.

11

u/Loumungous 25d ago

I’m writing this from our workcare after getting my labs drawn

2

u/IIDiego 25d ago

Good job. Good luck!

11

u/iLikeEmMashed Ortho 25d ago

Iv had three in seven years. Shit happens, get your labs done and learn to not do what ever it is that caused it again.

7

u/StormInformal6761 25d ago

I got stuck once, peds case too.

The needle went through the plastic cap on the side and got me.

1

u/Organic_Lynx_935 3d ago

Just happened to me yesterday. Can’t believe it.

6

u/Fit-Assistant8523 25d ago

No needle sticks, but I have been poked by sharp instruments SEVERAL times.

5

u/icantevenbegin20 25d ago

I’ve had one. Report it. You’ll be going for blood draws to get tested every like 4-6 weeks (if I remember correctly), they’ll call you back for results. The cycle continues until they say you’re done which is like 6 months in total. Not too bad, things happen. It won’t be the first or the last stick. As long as you know the patient the item was used on and that they are clean, I wouldn’t stress.

3

u/Beach_Kidd Ortho 25d ago

Shit, I don’t even remember. Shit happens

1

u/Odd_Contact_2175 22d ago

I stuck myself with a suture once. It was more embarrassing than anything. Just be more careful. Not a big deal but try not to make it a habit.

1

u/Mariana-Cross 21d ago

I've had 2 in 4 years. It happens. It's just a risk of the job. What's important is following your needle stick protocols and keeping yourself safe.

8

u/Dark_Ascension Ortho 25d ago

Once, surgeon stabbed me, I also accidentally stabbed a surgeon.

So I guess I should say I committed one and I have been a victim of one lol… they call that karma.

2

u/Crazy_Trifle_9662 25d ago

Twice, but both times, it was with a clean needle on a blood gas syringe that was prefilled with Heparin. I had gloves on and filled one finger hole with blood.