Contents
Catalog Links

Protocol for Puncture Wounds and Exposure to Blood or Bodily Fluids

Incidents involving any type of needle stick or body-fluid exposure must be reported to the Course Faculty/Facility immediately. The course faculty will then notify the Office of Field Experience.

All faculty and students should observe the protocol for safe needle usage when practicing or performing parental injections, IV starts, blood draws, or using syringes, or performing any invasive procedure as part of a skills check off, or in a clinical practicum setting. The faculty/student should follow the protocol for needle usage at the agency where clinical practicum are being held.

Uncontaminated Needle Stick or Intact Skin Exposure

A student who accidentally punctures him/herself with an uncontaminated needle or is exposed to blood or bodily fluid that is an intact skin exposure should:

  1. Wash the area immediately and thoroughly with soap and water

  2. Follow-up with their own Primary Care Provider who will make a determination of Tetanus immunization status and give appropriate prophylaxis or referral for appropriate prophylaxis.

  3. Complete an incident report with the course faculty who was present during the incident. A copy of this report will be given to the Office of Field Experience and placed in the student’s file.

  4. Counseling referral and other referrals can be arranged through the student’s personal Primary Care Provider.

Contaminated Needle Stick or Non-Intact Skin or Mucous Membrane Exposure

If the exposure is via a contaminated needle or if a bodily fluid exposure to non-intact skin, or to mucous membranes the student should continue with the following:

  1. Wash the skin area immediately with soap and water. If exposure is to mucous membranes, flush area with water immediately.

  2. Report the incident to your course faculty.

  3. Immediately seek medical attention. If in an acute care setting, always follow agency guidelines. This may include reporting to either Occupational Health or the agency Emergency Department.

In the event that this incident occurs, in the community setting, when the agency Occupational Health Center or Emergency Department are not available, United States University recommends that you seek immediate treatment at an Urgent Care or Physician’s Office equipped to treat contaminated needle stick injuries.

An incident report will be completed by the student and the course faculty who was present during incident. A copy of this report will be given to the Office of Field Experience to be placed in the student’s file. Financial responsibility for testing and recommended care following an exposure rests solely with the student. This could include testing, evaluation, treatment, and counseling.

If you have questions about the appropriate medical treatment, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you call a 24-hour assistance line at 1.888.448.4911 (Clinicians’ Post Exposure Prophylaxis Hotline).