SOOOO HOT AT WORK!!

[flyfarfaraway]

Let me start off by saying I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant. I get so darn hot at work it's unbelievable. Especially when I get stuck in an isolation room assisting with a thoracentesis for 30 minutes in one of those plastic blue gowns, or if I'm in a TB isolation room wearing a fricken N95 mask. I have had to stick my head in a freezer for like 15 minutes a couple of times because I thought I was going to pass out. What do you think about getting a little fan for my cow? (Computer on Wheels) Have you ever seen anyone do this? It's always so hot in a lot of my patients rooms because I work on a pulmonary floor and a lot are old with pneumonia and are "freezing cold!!"

[nurseladybug12]

It is sad to hear that some nurses do not have one ounce of compassion for a pregnant nurse, I hope their patients aren't suffering from their lack of it.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We have a list of things we don't give to pregnant girls. Wearing a blue gown sucks.....wait until you are having a hot flash! And wear I work, we are in pods and you get to wear that blue gown and gloves for your whole shift!! At least she gets to come and go out of the room.

We just drink a lot of ice water. No fans allowed.

[Lola Lou, BSN]

Well that escalated quickly!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Besides pregnancy or chemo for cancer, are there other conditions you think warrant special consideration? How about nurses with bad backs or torn rotaotr cuffs or other problems?

[prmenrs, RN]

Back to the topic @ hand: I searched Amazon (my favorite store--you can dress like you're going to Walmart, and you never get your picture on FB or youtube) for a fan w/a USB: got some really cute (and cheap) options. Might be worth buying one, plugging it in on your COW, see who says what. Amazon.com: fan w/usb

I hope one of them works and doesn't get swiped w/in 5mins of implementation.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Back to the topic @ hand: I searched Amazon (my favorite store--you can dress like you're going to Walmart, and you never get your picture on FB or youtube) for a fan w/a USB: got some really cute (and cheap) options. Might be worth buying one, plugging it in on your COW, see who says what. Amazon.com: fan w/usb

I hope one of them works and doesn't get swiped w/in 5mins of implementation.

The USB fan is good for in hallways (depending on how picky your infection control people are.) But every infection control department I've ever dealt with has been adamant about not allowing fans in isolation rooms. No matter what kind of isolation the patient is on.

I was at amazon (also my fave store) looking for something else and happened to see at amazon the "ice bandana" (not sure about links here, so that's what to search) with very reasonably priced extra inserts. Could keep one on your neck with an extra insert in the staff freezer for when it warms up.

Would also avoid theft because you don't have to leave it unattended (except for the inserts in the freezer) as it's actually on your person.

I'm thinking of getting one for days when I have to function with a migraine, as an ice pack on the neck is helpful for them, but keeping it on my neck when I'm moving around is difficult, and this seems to be the perfect solution.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

delete my post. nevermind

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

Why should any nurse put 2 lives at risk by exposure to an infectious disease, as opposed to one? If possible, spread out the patients in isolation to the non-pregnant, non-immunocompromised nurses and call it a day.

the non pregnant nurse may actually be immunocompromised. as for the fan.... i have seen small ones at the desk. some scrub tops are not as hot as others.some fabrics are realllly bad especially when you add on the gowns. another reason not to mandate uniforms for staff!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

MODERATOR NOTE: Final warning

This is a tread about how to cool off at work......the OP happens to be pregnant and asked how to remain cool at work.

If you wish to debate about pregnancy as a disability....start another thread.

Please stick to topic or thread will be closed and points assigned

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

She should ask her manager which of these suggested things she can use at work. We cann't have fans, no cooling bandanas, no neck rolls as they are not in our dress code. Like I said ice water is our friend at work, we just have to sweat it out. And absolutely no plugging things into USB ports on the WOW! Unless you want to send it to clinical engineering and not see it for weeks. Bottom line, ask your manager.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

No cooling bandanas or neck rolls because they aren't in the dress code is HARD CORE. "It would be unprofessional for you to break the dress code. But sweating through your scrubs is TOTALLY PROFESSIONAL." :)

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Again ice pack in your bra, or even the small of your back. You can easily hide it. That way there is no breaking dress code since it isn't visable.