Monday, August 27, 2007
1 Year 1 Month 23 Days Later
Ok so it has happened. I have been working as a dental hygienist for 1 year 1 month and 23 days and I have just received my first needle stick. I am so bugged!!!! It was a busy Monday. All 13 opertories are full and we are short an assistant so.....I am waiting for an exam and I cannot start my next patient because there are no ops available. So I decide to go in the back and start cleaning instruments. There was a mountain of trays. I started on top and worked my way down. On the bottom tray there was an uncapped needle and I did not see it and punctured my finger. I was MAD!!!! I ripped off my glove and looked at my finger. There was no blood so I milked my finger for 5 minutes and could not get the pink dot to bleed so I guessed I was alright. One of my Drs was standing there watching me trying to make my finger bleed so I explained the situation and he said the assistants should not have brought the tray back without capping the needle and one assistant said the Drs should not leave the needles uncapped! So we found out whose tray it was and which Dr was responsible and which patient I needed to go check out the health history. To make the drama short....my Dr was sorry and apologized to me and the patient was 17 yr old healthy one. So I hope it is alright. I feel ok about it. Should I be worried? Should I get my blood tested? Should I loose sleep? Should I become a pharmacist? These are all my questions.....1 year 1 month and 23 days later:)
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9 comments:
I've been stuck with various needles and instruments since 1992. I'm still alive and kickin' baby cakes. One dentist handed me a syringe needle first, and poked me right in the finger. I wanted to give him the finger! Luckily it was a little 8 y.o. girl, so I wasn't worried.
I can't believe you've been a hygienist for over a year! Pretty cool!!
Ha! Sorry to laugh, but your ending to this post is fantastic! Don't worry about, I've definitely had my fair share of pokes from instruments and I'm doing just fine. Granted I've never been poked by a needle, but being gouged by a scaler I think is just as significant and I'm still alive and kickin'. Had it not been a young healthy teen I would say get tested, but I'm sure you're in the clear so don't go to pharmacy school just yet....
Ok so I never read other comments before I write my own so as not to unintentionally plagerize. Ummm, I just read Aimee's and we pretty much said the same thing, hahah.
I've never been poked by a needle but it did get a file in the knee when i walked up to a cart and the file was still on the slowspeed and aiming right at me! Random! Whether you're ok or not you better not become a pharmacist...the dental world would not be the same without you! I hope all is well in Cedar!
Oh my heck! I just read your comment on crystal's blog and i totally remember MAMELONS!!! And that you are the oldest of 6 kids! Wow, that was 3 years ago...probably pretty close to exactly 3 years ago! I too remember Crystals comment at orientation, then thinking school would be hell because they were that strict on making her be at orientation...some days were hell!
Ooooo so mad is right, it is one thing if it is your error, but someone else leaving it uncapped when you were trying to help. Madness justified! So I dont mean to totally miss this boat, but have you been thinking of going back to school? I think you are a fabulous hygienist and think you should stay on this side :o)
Uh oh-- I hope you don't have the HIV! And I really don't mind if you're a hygenist or pharmacist, because either way I'll still stalk you and use you for your mad skills wherever you are. :-D
Oh you are so cute! If it would settle your little mind then hit up the Dr. I bet of you said something, your Dr's at your office would pay for you to see someone. But, really i am sure you are fine!!
Pharmacy, what fun would that be. Wouldn't you miss scraping crap off of people's teeth?? I know i would! :)
Mair I laughed so hard at your "like" comment on Jessicas blog, you are too much, I loved it, so thanks for a REALLY good laugh!!
Oh, sorry about the poke! Are you seriousally thinking about going back to pharm school? Are you still doing pharm tech 1 day a week? What-scraping teeth isn't glamorous enough?!? ;) Glad to hear that you are having fun and working hard!
p.s. You should totally have Lasik! Let me know if you have any questions!
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