01-20-2015, 02:04 AM
A 3 0 year old nurse presents to the emergency room after having been stuck
with a needle. She was drawing blood on a patient and stuck herself with a
needle that had several drops of the patient's blood on it. The nurse informs
the physician that the patient is admitted for an abscess in his antecubital area
and is a known IV drug abuser. It is unknown to her if he has ever had an
HIV test. At this point, the physician should do which of the following?
A) Order an HIV test on the patient
B) Review the patient's chart to first find out if he has ever had a test, then
move on to attempting to obtain consent if he has not
C) Reassure the nurse that the likelihood of contracting HIV from a needle
stick is extremely low and that she will need to keep follow up with
occupational health for serial blood draws to make sure she doesn't seroconvert
2
with a needle. She was drawing blood on a patient and stuck herself with a
needle that had several drops of the patient's blood on it. The nurse informs
the physician that the patient is admitted for an abscess in his antecubital area
and is a known IV drug abuser. It is unknown to her if he has ever had an
HIV test. At this point, the physician should do which of the following?
A) Order an HIV test on the patient
B) Review the patient's chart to first find out if he has ever had a test, then
move on to attempting to obtain consent if he has not
C) Reassure the nurse that the likelihood of contracting HIV from a needle
stick is extremely low and that she will need to keep follow up with
occupational health for serial blood draws to make sure she doesn't seroconvert
2