HIV transmission???

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...

After only a few hours the possibility of HIV infection from blood ouside the body is reduced by between 80-99%. The reason you wear gloves and protection is for extra safety and other eventualities. The risk is very low.

[edit] When you're not sure, use fluids for killing viruses outside the body.

If you did not come into direct contact with the blood there really is no risk. It sounds like you covered up pretty well. Don't they teach this at nursing school?

Relax.
If you are a nurse you have less reason to worry than if not.

You didn't get HIV from changing the soiled bed with blood. You would have had to have an OPEN wound, and the blood would have to have come into contact with it, AND the blood would have had to have been fresh. Once it is out of the body, HIV can't live. If you had had a needlestick or something like that, the blood is kept fresh in the needle or syringe or whatever, but not on the bed. ALSO your scratch has a scab on it. AND you had a gown on. Don't worry or freak out. Just always remember to wash your hands with soap and hot water and lots of friction if you come into contact with any bodily fluids, and keep open wounds covered with a band aid or tegaderm or something like that. Washing with waterless antibacterial stuff is sufficient if your hand aren't visibly soiled.

Even if you got direct contact on your skin it won't infect you. HIV, thank God, is not that easy to get. You have to have direct fluid to fluid contact. If you have a cut, or get it in your eye then you might have a bit of worry.

if none of the fluid touched any of your wounds then I wouldn't worry about it but I would get checked if you are really worried