Postive side of being in Outbreak

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

So, our unit has been in "outbreak" status for nearly a week now, due to an nasty enteric outbreak.

Nearly 50% of our pts in isolation, vomiting/diarrhea, not fun.

But! There has been a postive side.

We closed down to visitor a few days ago (except for 2 pts who are really sick, almost palliative)

and it has been WONDERFUL! We can do care without moving around visitors - who know visiting hours start at 11:00, but come at 7:30 anyway, and we have no power to make them leave.

we can actaully get care done without being pulled here and there by visitors. We don't have to nag at visitors - "You need to were a gown and mask. Yes, I mean it."

No visitors hanging over their Mom saying "Mom do you have to pee" every minute until they call and say "Mom has to pee". No visitors coming to desk needing various needs that you need to stop pouring meds to address.

No visitors coming in sick or bringing in their sick child to "see Grandma".

No visitors asking "can you check my BP/temp/ give me some tylenol"

We have noticed that the pts are calmer, ringing less - it has been great! It makes me envy the way things were 50 years ago when visiting hours were actually 2 hours once or twice a week!

You know, it almost makes having almost 50% of our population in isolation worth it!

[Coriander, BSN, RN]

See? There's good in just about everything. :) I hope your patients heal quickly though... nasty stuff, enteric illness.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

hope your patients heal quickly though... nasty stuff, enteric illness.

We are doing better. 2 came off isolation today, probably another 2 tomorrow, and no new cases so things are looking up!

I was one of the staff that had it - thought I was throwing up my toe-nails at one point- so I am not making light of this - but it sure has been nice not to have visitors under-foot!

[thinkertdm]

Yeah, those visitors suck. If only people who get sick would just leave all that family at home! I mean, aside from the patient, who needs 'em? Especially since they inconvenience you!

[RXtech]

I know visitors can get in the way and cause problems. But I will be forever grateful that my children and I were able to spend so much time with my dad during the last few weeks of his life. And I know that it was a great comfort to him to have us there so much. We were really fortunate that his illness did not begin a few months later when all the H1N1 restrictions were put in place.