Needle Stick Injury Protocol

Re: Needle Stick Injury Protocol

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 13:45:38 GMT

Those are the ones we use however for drawing up isotopes we have to use non safety ones due to the use of a syringe guard so just have to be extra careful. If we were to use safety needles for isotope injection we would increase our radiation finger dose. However all other injections are drawn up using a safety needle, cannula or butterfly

Re: Needle Stick Injury Protocol

Catherine Goulding — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 11:21:54 GMT

Ah, you mean reporting it by writing in the accident book, ok, sorry, my mistake. We have to report straight to occupational health for blood testing and potential hepatitis C boosters depending on when wewere last vaccinated, we also are potentially required to have a HIV test and start HIV prophylaxis - not nice. The HSE has produced regulations on the use of needles and sharp implements http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsis7.pdf - has the use of safety needles and cannulas reached veterinary medicine yet? They are not liked and most people who use them ending up taking off the protective bit prior to use which totally defeats the object!

Re: Needle Stick Injury Protocol

JaneRVN — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 08:59:23 GMT

I would always report every needlestick - however you define it. I got a clean needlestick that hit a nerve. Had a week off work and was hospitalised to monitor lack of sensation.

A needlestick is an accident at work - it should be put in the accident book. If fo no other reason than to monitor H&S at work.

Re: Needle Stick Injury Protocol

Nick Shackleton — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 19:07:33 GMT

[quote user="Catherine Goulding"]

A needle stick injury in the NHS is different to a vet needlestick injury. A NHS needle stick injury is defined as a needle that has pierced your skin after piercing someone else's skin and so has repercussions such as hepatitis and HIV etc. There should be no need to bleed a veterinary needle stick injury or to report it either. I agree we need to be reducing these injuries as they are unpleasant, but sticking yourself with a clean needle is very different to a dirty needle.

[/quote] As well as this Happening working in nuclear medicine having a needle stick injury could mean you can get radioactive material introduced into your body. We use re-sheathing blocks. This is a plastic block that the needle cap can be put into and the needle can be re-capped without holding the cap. Also we have been using for a number of years safety cannulas and have just introduced the use of safety butterflies and needles. The use of these devices reduce the chances of sustaining a needle stick injury

Re: Needle Stick Injury Protocol

Catherine Goulding — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:02:46 GMT

Re: Needle Stick Injury Protocol

JaneRVN — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:02:33 GMT

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2557.aspx?CategoryID=72

Boring bit above. I saw a poster in an NHS ward recently:-

Bleed it
Clean it
bandage it
report it

Re: Needle Stick Injury Protocol

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:51:14 GMT

Swear a lot. Bleed profusely, especially over the animal (always white). Wrap vet-wrap tightly round finger to point that it turns blue. Swear again when you take bandage off and it starts bleeding again.

or is that not what you mean?