Nurse Quirks

Rhi007 · Jan 3, 2013

I'm not a nurse yet but I'm exposed to the ED as a volunteer, I now find myself sniffing food and taking my own plastic eating irons to work because in 3wks we've had 300 cases of gastro as well as 4wards being quarantined!!! My food can't touch each other and I'm always at a sink washing my hands because used admit folders aren't cleaned after use.

TheBlackDogWaits · Jan 3, 2013

Oh, my. I was at the bedside of a god child who had some serious brain trauma and was bedridden unconscious not very long ago. A nurse was administering a catheter , and I was paying very close attention since I heard that UTIs are more common than they should be in hospitals. Well, it's no wonder: she put gloves on, THEN went between the pt and organizer drawers on the cart, WITHOUT sanitizing between patient and the cart objects! She did this SEVERAL times, back and forth. The pt was obviously not my child, and I don't even know if the pt's mother noticed, so I didn't say anything. However, it makes me wonder what the hell else I'll be touching down the road...

psu_213, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2013

Well, it's no wonder: she put gloves on, THEN went between the pt and organizer drawers on the cart, WITHOUT sanitizing between patient and the cart objects!

Were those her sterile gloves? If they were, this is a big no no.

I wash my hands a lot, use alcohol foam when going into and out of each room. I wipe my portable phone down at the beginning of my shift (and anytime a pt uses it) with a Clorox wipe. However, I would say I'm somewhat in the middle of nurses in terms of being 'hypersanitizing.' Some should do more to protect themselves, others are, IMHO, way too far over the top. Although, for the latter, as long as they get things done, I can't fault them for being over the top. I just feel like I would never get anything done and would never be able to progress through my day if I was constantly living in fear of everything someone else may have touched.

pockunit, ADN, RN · Jan 3, 2013

I sleep more. And I'm on my fourth (probable) virus illness since December started. Those are about the only changes. Oh, and I eyeball veins wherever I go.

TheBlackDogWaits · Jan 3, 2013

I sleep more. And I'm on my fourth (probable) virus illness since December started. Those are about the only changes. Oh, and I eyeball veins wherever I go.

Why veins? What are you looking for? I'm surprised no one has mentioned being particularly cautious in restaurants, movie theaters, etc.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2013

After I had the labs in sterile technique I got really good at taking a piece of bread out of the bag without contaminating the inside of the bag or the remaining slices. I have never had moldy bread ever since. I also am good about using clean utensils to take jelly out of the jar. No spoiled jelly anymore, either, even though I make my own and it has no preservatives in it.

Also, after years in the ICU, when I hear people coughing in the supermarket or someplace, I reflexively say, "Good cough, deep breath, do it again."

I also noticed that it didn't make a damn bit of difference if the kids washed their hands before meals, sucked on the pets' toes, or had a bath every day. They're all healthy. The general bacterial load associated with living life as a human being is not the huge threat the advertisers of "sanitizing wipes" tell you. A good immune system doesn't happen by accident. Evidence-based practice ROCKS!

RNperdiem, RN · Jan 3, 2013

I have not changed my habits at all. I was never germ-phobic. In Trauma, I see far more damage done to human bodies through poor choices than lack of sanitation.

People tend to have more dread over things that seem out of their control(germs,planes, terrorists) while drinking too much, eating poorly, smoking and ignoring signs of bigger health problems.

We are only human.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2013

Have any of you found yourself more and more disgusted with random things or processes as you moved through your education and/or career? For instance if you have kids or domesticated animals -- did you start hypersanitizing? Or, did you perhaps start hypersanitizing anyway? Did your social habits change? Did your personal habits change? Did your kitchen habits or bathroom habits change? Please, unwind my spinning head....[/quote']
Hypersanitizing is not healthy, and I read an article recently on parents who Clorox wipe everything and always have their kids using hand sanitizer. Those kids are sick more often because their immune system is not exposed to much.
The biggest change nursing has made on my life is I am more chill and laid back. When you are a nurse and you see life or death emergencies at work, it makes it hard to get bent out of shape about anything that happens at home that isn't life or death. Spilt milk, dead car battery, etc I tend to take it all in stride.

Kdrenee · Jan 4, 2013

Hypersanitizing is not healthy, and I read an article recently on parents who Clorox wipe everything and always have their kids using hand sanitizer. Those kids are sick more often because their immune system is not exposed to much.
The biggest change nursing has made on my life is I am more chill and laid back. When you are a nurse and you see life or death emergencies at work, it makes it hard to get bent out of shape about anything that happens at home that isn't life or death. Spilt milk, dead car battery, etc I tend to take it all in stride.

I agree with you there! I over sanitize and wash my hands constantly, and I get sick more often than others. I mean, I don't get really sick or anything, I just get colds a lot. I can't help it, I think i have OCD!

workingharder · Jan 4, 2013

I get sick very seldom. I just figure that no self respecting germ would live in my body.

Kdrenee · Jan 4, 2013

I get sick very seldom. I just figure that no self respecting germ would live in my body.

You would think that about mine too, but ehhh. I guess a lot of germs are not self respecting! Lol.