What's more fun on a Saturday than going to work?  What about going to work and getting stuck by a needle?  Yes, that was my day yesterday.  I stuck myself with a needle after sticking a patient.  I spoke with a hotline nurse for about 45 minutes, then an infectious disease doctor for about 15 minutes.  Then went to go get tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.  That will probably be the only time I will ever be tested for HIV.  Hey, don't the commercials tell you its good to know your status??  I am also taking some antiretroviral drugs.  The pharmacist looked quite concerned when I picked up my medication, and I assured her it was all preventative from a needle stick scare.  Now I have to go for testing in a week, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year.  Terrific!

 

It is a risk I take every day, although I do my best to keep myself and patients safe.  Talking with the other nurses working that day (I love our weekend staff!!), they all have stuck themselves one time or another.  Although I felt rather stupid for sticking myself, it was reassuring.  It is still a little scary to think about, though I believe I will be ok.  I think my roommates were more concerned about me than I was, and frankly they were scaring me a little bit more than I was on my own.  

I also felt like Meredith on The Office.  When Michael breaks her pelvis by hitting her with his car, he in turn "saves" her life after the doctor finds out she needs the rabies vaccine from some previous animal bites.  Along with getting my tests run, I got my tetanus booster that was almost due, thereby "saving" my life.  Or at least another trip to the doctor.

I think to myself, only me...