Question

You are employed as a nurse in a hospital emergency room when a patient stumbles through the door. She is bleeding profusely. As she waves her arms, blood droplets fly and you thonk one jas reach your eye. What should you do?

Answer 1

This is a case of cross infection - from patient to primary medical care giver.

The first step to do -

1. Inform other members of the nursing team to attend to the patient immediately.

2. Immediately go the section of the hospital, which has a eye pressure wash facility and thoroughly rinse for at- least 10 to 15 mins.

3. Inform your reporting supervisor about the incident immediately - an incident form has to be filled and submitted as routine hospital policy.

4. As per the hospital policy - the supervisor will refer the nurse to a physician for evaluation including blood work

5. Simultaneously - the patient will also be subjected to infectious disease testing ( HIV, HbsAg etc) and clinical history will be taken from patient family members if present.

6. If patient turns out to be positive for any infectious disease - then the nurse will be treated prophylactively.

7. If patient is negative - then the nurse will be reviewed again after 3 to 6 months to eliminate window period negative results.