Nurse Gets
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Nurse Gets
Amanda Bucceri Androus, RN, BSN | Updated/Verified: Aug 5, 2022
Amanda Bucceri Androus is a Registered Nurse from Sacramento, California. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in nursing. She began her career working night shifts on a pediatric/ med-surg unit for six years, later transferring to a telemetry unit where she worked for four more years. She currently works as a charge nurse in a busy outpatient primary care department. In her spare time she likes to read, travel, write, and spend time with her husband and two children.
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Home / Nursing Articles / What Happens If a Nurse Gets a Needlestick or Other Type of Exposure?
Sustaining a needlestick injury or other type of exposure is scary. According to the CDC, there is an average of 385,000 sharps-related injuries annually among healthcare workers. Healthcare workers are at risk for contracting diseases such as Hepatitis B or C as well as HIV – which can be terrifying. Despite legislation for needlestick prevention and safety measures in place, accidents do happen, and nurses need to know what to do in case of an exposure.
The actions taken after exposure depend on the type of exposure. For sharps/needlestick injuries, nurses should immediately wash the area with soap and water and "milk" the area to encourage bleeding. Viruses begin to multiply rapidly once in the bloodstream, so preventing entry into the bloodstream in the first place is extremely important. For splash exposures, nurses should scrub the area thoroughly with soap and water. For splash exposures involving mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth), irrigate the area well with water.
Nurses should immediately report exposures to a supervisor. This is one of the largest problems; nurses are extremely busy and sometimes choose not to report right away. They may not want to "dump" their work on others and sometimes they are afraid of discipline for reporting a sharps injury. Some are even embarrassed, or are too frightened to face the possibility of contracting a disease or too much in shock to report. However, reporting should not be delayed – treatment should begin immediately to help prevent transmission of bloodborne pathogens.
Once reported to the provider, several things may happen at once. In some cases, the patient is contacted and blood work ordered to check Hepatitis B and C status as well as HIV. This is only if it is known where the exposure came from. Also, the patient must give consent to check blood work. Concurrently, the nurse would also get baseline lab work done. A Hepatitis B vaccine may also be indicated, and the nurse may choose the option of starting post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce the transmission of HIV. Subsequent blood work (for at least six months) to monitor conversion status may also be indicated. Learn more about the role of HIV/AIDS RNs .
Nurses may also benefit from counseling services. As stated earlier, an exposure can be very stressful and scary, affecting not just the patient and nurse but the nurse's family as well. Some nurses feel like they "failed" by experiencing a needlestick or other type of exposure, playing the scenario back to find out how things could have been done differently.
Unfortunately, needlestick and other types of exposures happen. Nurses can reduce their risk by following safety measures and using needleless systems (when possible) and activating the safety device on sharps. Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing a procedure or task that has a high risk of exposure to body fluids is also critical. Nurses should also avoid rushing and "cutting corners" as it could result in an accidental exposure.
For more information on what to do following an exposure, please visit the CDC website .
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If you're considering becoming a nurse, or looking to make a career change as a nurse , you're likely wondering how much you can make and how you can earn the highest nurse salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , Registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $77,600 as of 2021. But that's just an average across all specialties, with some of the highest paying nursing careers paying over $195K annually!
How much you get paid as a nurse will also depend on where you work, what degree you hold (nurses with a master's in nursing often earn far more than BSN-prepared nurses), and what industry you work in. Read on to learn about all the different types of nurses and salaries.
To help you decide which career direction is right for you, take a look at some of the highest paid nursing specialties . Keep in mind that salaries do vary greatly based on location and employer, so the earnings listed below are just a baseline to help with your research. The top 15 highest paying nursing jobs are:
What is the highest-paid nurse? Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists ! Earning $195,610 annually, CRNAs earn significantly more than any other type of nurse or nursing specialty. This highly skilled profession involves preparing and administering anesthesia to patients in collaboration with surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, podiatrists, and other qualified healthcare professionals, according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists .
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn a median salary of $195,610 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , making it the top paying nursing specialty. CRNAs typically work 40 hours per week, making the hourly wage average out to approximately $94.04 per hour.
According to the BLS, the expected growth for CRNAs is 45% from 2020 to 2030.
Be prepared to hit the books in order to achieve a degree from an accredited nurse anesthesia educational program, and upon completion, passing the National Certification Examination.
Although a doctoral degree is not yet required to become a CRNA, it will be required in the future as the Council on Accreditation has announced a doctoral degree as a requirement by 2025.
Employers include hospitals, clinics, free-standing surgical centers, ambulatory centers, pain management centers, and staffing agencies.
As a general nurse practitioner , you can choose to open an independent practice or work in a variety of primary care settings. You can also advance your skills and your earning potential along the way. General NPs can later specialize in a field, if they wish.
General nurse practitioners earn a median salary of $120,680 per year, according to the May 2021 BLS. General nurse practitioners typically work 40 hours per week, making their hourly wage approximately $58.02 .
Nurse Practitioner jobs (which include general) are expected to grow 45 percent through 2030, per the BLS . Add to that the option to work independently, and the outlook for this specialty is robust.
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum degree requirement for becoming a nurse practitioner, followed by earning Nurse Practitioner licensure as specified by your state.
Employers include hospitals, clinics, urgent care, outpatient clinics, private practice, and staffing agencies.
ICU nurses require a specialized set of skills since they literally deal with life-and-death matters on a daily basis. They often work in hospital ICUs but also can work in other areas of nursing. Becoming a critical care nurse is seen as one of the most coveted positions in nursing, as these nurses possess a very high level of critical thinking and nursing skills.
The average annual salary for ICU Nurses was $ 120,243 as of June 2022, according to ZipRecruiter . While the range typically falls between $76,500 and $145,500, critical care nurses often make well over $200,000 based on their shift, hospital, and location. New nurses generally start at the lower end of the pay scale before quickly moving up. Critical care nurses typically work 36 hours per week, making their hourly wage approximately $ 57.81 on average.
When you hear about nursing shortages, the biggest areas in need include adult critical care units, pediatric and neonatal ICUs, and emergency departments. That’s why ICU nurses should generally have no problem finding work.
While no specific credentials are needed to begin working in critical care, in order to advance, you should consider the CCRN certification exam. Most hospitals will have specific training for intensive care nurses to ensure they are confident in their skills and abilities.
Employers include hospitals, managed care facilities, outpatient surgical centers, administration, research committees, cardiac catheter labs, post-anesthesia care units, emergency departments, cardiac centers, urgent care clinics, short-term stay hospitals, and staffing agencies. Critical care nurses can specialize in adult critical care, pediatric critical care, or geriatric critical care.
If you love caring for babies, consider becoming a neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurse . This specialty commands a strong salary, especially for advanced practice nurses.
The average annual NICU nurse salary is $118,586, according to ZipRecruiter . Those with a BSN, more experience, and advanced certifications have higher earning potential. NICU nurses typically work 36 hours per week, giving them an average hourly rate of $57.00.
Both advances in technology and the frequency of premature births have contributed to a strong job outlook for neonatal nurses.
While you can get neonatal unit experience as a staff RN, earning either a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) or neonatal clinical nurse specialist (CNS) designation is how the real advancement takes place. An advancement in degree comes with a salary bump as well. Nurses who wish to earn certification without an advanced practice degree can earn their RNC-NIC.
Employers include hospitals, private practice, birth centers, neonatal intensive care units, well-baby units, newborn nursery, private consultant, private duty baby nurse, pediatric outpatient clinics, and staffing agencies.
For nurses with an interest in mental health, working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner will give you the opportunity to work with psychiatric medical physicians and counsel patients regarding mental health disorders. Psychiatric nurse practitioners also work with patients that suffer from a combination of mental health disorders and substance abuse issues.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners earn, on average, $ 113,114 per year, as of May 2022 according to Payscale . Psychiatric nurse practitioners typically work 40 hours per week, making their hourly wage approximately $63.75.
As the need for improved mental healthcare gains national attention, and the demand for adolescent and child psychiatric services increases, PNPs will be highly sought after. Additionally, as substance abuse continues to rise throughout the country, PNPs will need to become well versed in both mental health and substance abuse issues.
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum degree requirement for becoming a nurse practitioner, followed by earning Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner licensure as specified by your state.
Employers include hospitals, mental health units, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, and staffing agencies.
For RNs who love obstetrics , labor and delivery, and prenatal care, becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife is the perfect career path. CNMs mostly work in OB/GYN offices, clinics, or hospital settings, but many open their own practices depending on their state of practice.
The average certified nurse-midwife salary is $ 112,830 per the BLS . CNMs typically work 40 hours per week, making their hourly wage approximately $54.24.
The job outlook for midwives is beyond good, with expectations that openings will grow 45 percent during the 2020 to 2030 decade.
To practice certified nurse midwifery, nurses can go through the American Midwifery Certification Board to earn the Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife designations.
Employers include hospitals, freestanding birthing clinics, private practice clinics, and staffing agencies.
Those who wish to work in a specialized unit or clinic should consider the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) path. In addition to diagnosing and treating various conditions, you’ll be looked upon as an expert within your healthcare team. Clinical Nurse Specialists focus on improving the status of nursing at the hospital. They are involved in research and bettering the care provided in the healthcare setting.
According to Salary.com, the average salary for clinical nurse specialists in the United States is $112,267. However, there is a range of salaries for this specialty, typically between $101,514 and $122,976. Clinical nurse specialists typically work 40 hours per week, making their hourly wage approximately $54.00.
Because Clinical Nurse Specialists can offer specialized care at a lower cost than a physician, more and more hospitals and institutions will be seeking to add these professionals to their teams.
A Clinical Nurse Specialist must earn a Master’s of Science in Nursing, with a specialization in clinical nursing.
Employers include hospitals, clinics, private practices, and staffing agencies.
Pain Management Nurses help manage a patient’s pain post-surgery or work with patients who have chronic pain issues. They work within a healthcare team to help determine the cause of the pain and the proper course of treatment, while also educating patients about pain management and avoiding addiction or dependence on prescribed medication.
The average yearly salary for pain management nurses is $ 110,420 per year according to Indeed.com . Pain management nurses typically work 40 hours per week, making their hourly wage approximately $47.41.
Because pain management nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings -- hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes -- the demand for this skill is strong. As the population continues to age, the need for experienced pain management nurses will only continue to rise.
While an advanced degree isn’t necessary to become a pain management nurse, sufficient experience as an RN is required to vie for the Nurse Practitioner certification for Pain Management Specialists.
Employers include hospitals, drug counseling centers, drug dependency clinics, rehabilitation centers, oncology clinics, sports rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, fitness centers, and staffing agencies.
A Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) is a perioperative registered nurse that functions as a first assistant during surgical operations. The role and responsibilities of an RNFA will vary greatly based on the institution. Large academic teaching hospitals might not employ as many RNFA due to residents and fellows.
The average salary for a Registered Nurse First Assist is $ 101,890 , as of May 2022, according to Salary.com . But the range typically falls between $92,181 and $113,509. The salary range varies based on years of experience and location of the position. RNFAs typically work 36 hours per week, making their hourly wage approximately $49.00 .
With the overwhelming number of outpatient surgical centers opening across the country, the need for well trained Registered Nurse First Assistants is rapidly growing.
To become an RNFA, the nurse first must have substantial perioperative experience, as this advanced training builds upon the basic fundamentals and focuses on surgical anatomy, procedures, and techniques. To become a certified RNFA, the nurse must have a CNOR certification, active and unencumbered RN license, a bachelor’s degree, as well as 2,000 hours of experience working as an RNFA.
RNFAs can work in ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals, outpatient same-day surgery centers, private offices, research, staffing agencies, and product development.
A nurse administrator deals with the backstage operations of nursing, from budgeting and staff management to HR functions.
Nursing administrators earn a median salary of $ 101,340 per year, as of May 2021, according to the BLS. Nurse administrators typically work a minimum of 40 hours per week, making their hourly wage approximately $ 48.72 .
Employment of medical and health services managers (of which nursing administrators are a part of) is projected to grow 32% from 2020 to 2030, according to the BLS .
Usually a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration is required, as is state licensing. Some Nursing Administrators will also have a Masters in Business Administration.
Employers include hospitals, private practice, healthcare companies, clinics, and staffing agencies.
The position of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is the career closest to functioning like a primary care physician. FNPs typically perform many of the same functions as an MD -- working in a medical office, hospital, clinic, or nursing facility. Their responsibilities include patient consultations, assessments, prescribing medications and treatment, and more.
Family nurse practitioners earn an average of $ 98,041 per year, as of May 2022, according to Payscale.com . FNPs typically work 40 hours per week, making their
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