Question

Include a cover page and a minimum 500 word document discussion in APA format. Sandra is a nurse in the physician's office and she has just assisted the physician with a suturing procedure. As she is cleaning up afterwards, she is cut by the suture needle and it penetrates her glove. 1. What procedures should be followed? 2. Is the employer responsible even though Sandra made the mistake? 3. How does this incident affect the patient whose blood is on the suture needle? 4. Can the patient be forced to have HIV testing?

Answer 1

Needle prick injury

Needle prick injury are accidental injury caused by needle by puncturing the skin. When u sustain a needle prick injury follow these steps immediately.

• Allow the wound to bleed under running water
• Wash the wound with soap and water
• Do not scrub the wound
• Do not suck the wound
• Protect the wound with proper dressing
• Inform your supervisor
• Initiate the reporting system in needle prick injury.
• Identify the patient health details
• Also check if the patient is tested for HIV, hepatits B
• After needle prick injury the staff also tested for HIV, hepatitis B, HCV and liver function test.

The employer also have some responsibilities inorder to avoid accidental needle prick injury. If employer not follow proper guidelines needed for the protection of employees. He is also responsible for the mistake done by the employee. The employer have to follow all the necessary guidelines inorder to protect staff like

• Follow proper guidelines regarding safety
• Educate the employees about how to avoid needle stick injury. If they come across with it, how to manage or inform the concerned authority.
• Proper waste especially sharp disposal system
• Safe recapping procedures
• Improved equipment design like retractable needles, needle shield or sheath etc
• Surveillance program
• Ideallyneedles should not be recapped.

If a staff get needle prick injury, there is a need to verify if the patient is tested for HIV, hepatitis B& C. If he is not tested, after taking informed consent from the patient, the necessary test should be done. This may develop anxiety in the patient. Don't force/compel the patient for the test. Instead educate the patient and attain their consent for it