HIV question?

Question

I am a student nurse and at clinicals was told to clean a patient and chnage the bed. The bed was soiled with stool and blood, so I wore a yellow gown and double gloves. I had a cat scratch in my arm, so thats why I wore the gown. I didnt wear a mask or a face shield, since bllod wouldnt splash me in the face....later the nurse informed me that the patient was HIV positive...now IM freakin out....What are the possibilities I probably got it from changeing the soiled bed with blood...? Thanks...am just so worried...

Answer 1

If you were covered on your skin you should be fine, there should have been no way for the blood to be introduced into you system. Continue to stay safe.

Answer 2

If you had done your study you should know. The HIV virus dries very quickly outside the body and wearing a gown and gloves makes the chances of infection virtually zero The blood would have been soaked into the bedding further reducing any risk.
If you had an open scratch on your arm, can I ask why it wasn't covered by a dressing? Even as a care-worker it's one of the first things we are told! There are other just as serious conditions that are carried in the bodily fluids you could be at risk from! Always protect yourself and your patients!
Although I'd say your chances of infection are zero this time, learn the lesson and don't leave open cuts scratches or sores exposed to contamination!

Answer 3

HIV does not survive well outside the body. In artificially high concentrations produced in the lab, HIV drying that occurs outside of the body reduces the number of infectious viral particles by 99 percent in just a few hours. Since the concentration of HIV in blood or other bodily fluids is much lower, HIV drying outside the body virtually eliminates all infectious HIV particles therefore making the risk of HIV infection from blood or bodily fluids outside the body essentially zero.
Keep in mind that while HIV infection from infectious bodily fluids outside the body is essentially zero, other diseases like hepatitis B and C can and do occur. Therefore, any blood or bodily fluid outside the body should be considered a health risk and cleaned up using universal precautions and cleaning fluids that are known to kill viruses on contact.

Answer 4

if your a student nurse and your asking this question you need to return to nursing school and start over..


you know blood borne precautions.. and you should of known to look at his sheet , you have access as you are cleaning after the patient and that is part of care. now.. as you had a scratch...
you should of had it covered and that is stupid on your part.. your a nurse..


i am sure that if you wore a gown that your scratch didnt come in contact with the fluids and you are fine. in the future you need to make sure to take proper precautions to protect yourself and be aware of the patients you are taking care of

Answer 5

it is very unlikely that you would have caught anything since you were wearing a gown and double gloves. a mask or face shield would not matter because hiv is not an airborn disease

Answer 6

zero possibilities. If you're a student nurse you should be well aware that the only way you can contract the disease is direct contact with blood or body fluids that enter your bloodstream. Perhaps you're in the wrong profession...

Answer 7

you were protected so you should be fine,, but take an HIV test in the near future just for your peace of mind

Answer 8

I think you are fine you had one protection your good to go but just on tha safe side go get checked anyways..

Answer 9

if it did not get on your arm, i think you are fine.