You are performing an assessment on a patient
You are performing an assessment on a patient and have to leave the room to consult with the physician. When you return, you find the patient digging through the drawers in the room and is holding a needle and syringe in their hand.
You are performing an assessment on a patient
You are performing an assessment on a patient and have to leave the room to consult with the physician. When you return, you find the patient digging through the drawers in the room and is holding a needle and syringe in their hand.
What do you feel should be your first course of action?
How would this incident make you feel?
What legal and ethical challenges does this incident present?
Please supply 2 online sources for reference.
More details;
What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle?
- encourage the wound to bleed, ideally by holding it under running water
- wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap
- do not scrub the wound while you’re washing it
- do not suck the wound
- dry the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing
You should also seek urgent medical advice as you may need treatment to reduce the risk of getting an infection:
- contact your employer’s Occupational Health service if you injure yourself at work
- otherwise call your GP, NHS 111 or go to the nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department
Needle-stick injuries
Injuries from needles used in medical procedures are sometimes called needle-stick or sharps injuries.
Sharps can include other medical supplies, such as syringes, scalpels and lancets, and glass from broken equipment.
Once someone has used a needle, viruses in their blood, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV, may contaminate it. This includes needles used to inject illegal drugs. Blood can also contaminate sharps.
For more information, see What infections can used needles or sharps pass on?
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