Five hours later the exact spot where she took blood from started to itch. After 3 hours my entire body began to itch.
Is there a possibility that this nurse has infected me?
please help.
Hello Nab123,
I don't know if the nurse infected you or not but policy indicates this:
1st You cannot leave needles open to the air for any reason. They must always have a cap on them because contaminants from the air can land on the needle and when you inject the needle into someone you are also injecting the contaminants.
2nd If the nurse decides to not wear gloves that is the nurse's perogative. The nurse is only endangering him or herself by taking the risk of your blood getting on him/her.
If you want to know if you got infected then you need to go see your doctor and have them conduct a skin scraping or do a blood test and see what is in your system. In the future if you see something that you are not comfortable, speak up and don't be intimated. As a patient you have the right to say No. No one can do anything to you without your authorization or you can sue them for assault and yes pricking someone with a needle is assault.
I strongly suggest you get it checked and you say something because hospitals have all types of microbes that you may or may not find in the workplace or the home environment.