Needle Prick Injury..or is it?

Let me tell you that doctors are at their busiest when they are on 3rd call and suddenly out of the blue you had an emergency and you need to see the doctor ASAP. Believe me, it's like waiting for Prince William to marry me.

We were given a small card regarding Needle Prick Injury and immediate actions to take when a needle prick injury occur. I guess if anyone who's wearing the card with his hospital ID, you'll know which hospital we're from. I got that injury while doing an ABG (arterial blood gas) on a patient's sample. I wanted to mix the blood to make sure there's no bubbles inside the syringe so the result will be accurate. Somehow in my attempt to take out the needle cap then, 'Ouch!'. The puncture was not so deep and big since (luckily) I wore two,yes I am paranoid , TWO gloves. If I'm slightly insane I'll wear 5 - 10 gloves to handle samples.

At first I was dumbfounded. I was thinking of washing away the wound entry under running water and just keep it to myself. However, my friend saw me holding my thumb looking at my little wound and of course such case of needle prick injury we ought to report and follow the appropriate measures. So, explains the long wait to see the doctor on call that night.

After waiting for eons, I thought to myself maybe I should just let this go, pretend like nothing happen and go home. But I was scared that if I didn't find out about the child and parents medical history it probably may cause a problem to my health if it's not now maybe in five years to come! I'm not yet married and I wanted is a normal,healthy life! So, there I am waiting for the doctor in Emergency Department and then wait (again) for the ever so busy doctor in Ward 28.

Two hours has passed. Finally she showed up! Apologizing profusely for being late. Nevermind, I said. In cases regarding life you can't effort to be clumsy can you? The process of reporting the incident is waaaayyy to tedious makes me want to throw up. I have to fill in this and that form. I have to take my blood samples to Virology to do HepB+HIV+VDRL tests. And so is the child. How unlucky I am for it to happen AFTER office hour. I was scared because in such case I will have to take courses of antibiotics (excuse my ignorance for not paying attention to the neddle prick seminar..hehe). Which may result in not so nice condition.

I was very anxious for many reasons. Some might blame me for being careless (potato,potata..like they're expert enough handling stuff..XP). I will hate myself of being so stupid. However,experience such as this one somehow makes me love my job even more. I have come to realise 5 months of working in the lab is not enough (of course) and I realise that my knowledge regarding my job and medical as a whole is about 0.0005 percent. How small I felt at that time. Listening to the nurses, the Sister on call and the doctor talking about conditions and such. Makes me wanted to continue my studies after a looooonngggg hiatus after everything is taken care of. Maybe I'll take long distance course since I don't have to let go of my job and my pay check every month. So this experience did makes me proud of what I do and all of medical and non medical staff. Each and everyone of us has our own duty to oblige with open heart and mind. Eventhough the cleaner in our lab! Without her, I think our lab will get a major non compliance in the next audit. I was thinking, if I haven't make a single mistake in my life, how will I learn?

I know, I know..it's such a small puncture..but you know what? Small things might make a big hanky - panky problems later.