Students who sustain a sharps injury (needle stick, glass, blade, etc.) or 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 adhere to 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.
1. Tell your preceptor and/or clinical instructor that you have had a sharps injury/exposure.
2. Remove the item that punctured your skin from the sterile field (if applicable).
3. Break scrub. (if applicable)
4. Clean the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes (per CDC guidelines)
5. If a splash exposure, flush mucous membranes with water or saline. Remove contacts if splash in eye. Flush for 15 minutes.
It is recommended that appropriate medical follow-up be obtained. Students who incurred a sharp puncture or exposure will follow the clinical site’s 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 and will be at the expense of the student. 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. An injury report will be completed at the site of the exposure and be documented at Bellin College.