Needlestick injuries: the shock and reality.
It has been a typically busy Saturday night in the emergency department. Then, near midnight, a trauma casualty was admitted and an incident occurred that would occupy Suzanne Smith's thoughts for months to come. When starting an intravenous line on this patient, Suzanne spiked herself with a needle. Later the patient was taken to the intensive care unit and placed on a ventilator. Suzanne was overcome with fear that she might have contracted AIDS. Her fears intensified when she learned that the patient, Mr. Norman, was a heroin addict.
Moorhouse
A
A
Bolen
R
R
Evans
J
J
Gilchrist
J
J
Hart
M
M
McKinlay
K
K
Midgely
L
L
Montada
M
M
Munro
A
A
Smith
R
R
D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009784:Occupational Diseases