Sharps and Biohazard
It is the policy all students who sustain a sharp (needle stick, glass, blade, etc.) or other exposure to blood or bodily fluids while engaged in a college sponsored education program should receive prompt medical attention, including counseling, prophylactic drug treatment, and baseline and follow up laboratory values, as necessary. In accordance with this policy, students who have been exposed to blood and/or body fluids must follow the following procedures. Please keep in mind that drug prophylaxis is time sensitive (2-24 hours), and patients leave the hospital quickly, therefore the student must immediately seek help from the appropriate supervising personnel.
Immediately after exposure first aid steps should be taken.
- Announce to your preceptor that you have had a sharps injury/exposure.
- Remove the item that punctured your skin from the sterile field.
- Break scrub.
- Clean the wound with soap and water.
- If a splash exposure, flush mucous membranes with water or saline.
- Contact your instructor
It is recommended that appropriate medical follow-up be obtained. Students who incurred a sharp puncture or exposure will follow clinical sites policy to gain appropriate counseling and testing. Testing of the source patient’s blood will be done according to the facility’s policy. The student is NOT to ask the source patient for permission for blood testing. The student will be counseled and advised regarding the post-exposure prophylaxis, if necessary. Baseline blood tests will be administered on the student. Retesting occurs at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after exposure (or as indicated by facility policy). All procedures, testing, and results will remain confidential. The clinical preceptor should be notified as soon as possible after the incident. The instructor will initiate the incident/injury report and evaluate the circumstances of the incident.