Unhygienic practices?

[worriedabouthygiene]

Is filling syringes at a receptionist's desk unhygienic? I went to a doctor's office today for a job interview and they gave me some "on the spot training" which was basically sit at the phone and answer it, and fill syringes between calls. Oh, and unwrapping bandages. They showed me how to fill the syringe and left me to it. I didn't have gloves or anything and I was handling the phone without washing my hands between syringe/phone times. And they had me unwrapping bandages and shoving them into big sandwich bags. The needles went into separate sandwich bags.

It was my first time handling a syringe and I'm pretty sure they gave all the people that were being "interviewed" this task.

Am I being paranoid or is there something sketchy about the doctor that runs this place?

I also searched reviews of her practice and the majority of her patients seem really dissatisfied. It also seems that she does this "training" sort of interview daily according to what I read.

I'm not going to post her name or practice or anything like that, I'm just worried that her practices could be considered health hazards.

[LaughingRN]

I'm not going to comment on the appropriateness of the interview, but the concept of clean technique.

When you draw up a medication into a syringe, it is not a sterile procedure. Therefore if you do not touch the sterile needle and you do not touch the sterile top of the vial after removing the cap (or a cleaned multi- use vial with alcohol) - you don't need gloves.

Think about the concept of "clean" gloves. They are in a box that require your hands (and who knows how many other dirty or clean hands) to touch the exterior of the gloves before putting them on. They are more to protect the health care worker from body fluids then to protect the patient from exposure to contaminates.

With that said, I'd be more concerned about pre-filled med syringes in a ziplock bag, presumably to be used by someone else (who didn't draw it up themselves) than by the hygienic issue. Just saying.

[worriedabouthygiene]

There's also the fact that she has people whose names she doesn't even know doing it... In the time I was there I could have easily slipped something into my bag or if one of her workers gets mad at her one day they can very easily fill up a syringe with something other than lidocaine, since nobody is monitoring it.

I'm positive she didn't even look at my application... Or the other girls'...

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

• The place where the meds were drawn up concerns me; meds should be prepared in a designated clean area away from potentially contaminated items.
  
• Was this real medication? You should really only draw up medication you will administer.
  
• It is not ideal to pre-draw syringes for injection b/c of the possibility of microbial growth in the syringe to contaminate the medication.
  
• To comment on the previous poster's remark, just b/c it may come up: the rubber stopper is not considered sterile b/c it has a cap on it and should be wiped with an ETOH pad once the cap is removed.
  

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Pre-drawing up medications in a syringe for someone else to administer later is a bad idea.

But my nursing home mind does find the idea of a "designated clean area" to prepare medications pretty funny. The top of my medcart? Have you *seen* that thing? Dollars to donuts the receptionist's desk is "cleaner".

[shermrn]

It does seem odd that they would have you do this. Unless you really need the job I would look elsewhere, it just seems strange to me.

[worriedabouthygiene]

Yeahhhh

I did a bit of Google-fu and decided that this isn't a woman I don't want to work for.

A few tidbits from her (mostly negative) reviews

-She yells at the staff in front of patients (I already experienced that)

-She's racist

-She overcharges insurance and makes people buy beauty products without telling them what they're for

-She keeps people waiting in a supply closet until the waiting room can hold them

-Patients can overhear her yelling at the staff to get them out and bring in another

-She doesn't diagnose or treat what the patients came for, simply assumes what's wrong without asking them any questions, treats them, -then- gives them a consent form to sign, and then sends them home

I'll just find work elsewhere. This is completely ridiculous.

[RainMom]

It was my first time handling a syringe and I'm pretty sure they gave all the people that were being "interviewed" this task.

Are you not a nurse or in nursing school at least? What type of position was the interview for? I find it very odd that non-nursing staff would be asked to draw up any meds.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Ok, I'll say it: this whole THREAD is odd.

[Hygiene Queen]

Sounds similar to a chiropractor I interviewed for once.

He was also trying to get the job interviewees to sign up for treatments... among other unkosher things.

I was offered the job and declined it... good for you for doing the same.

I draw up meds at the nurses' station all the time... the key is to keep the needle sterile and use your swabs.

I would think they'd have hand sanitizer at the desk so you can at least use that between tasks.

Having job applicants draw up meds?

Sounds like free labor doesn't it?

Glad you ran from that mess and I'd warn others to stay away.

[worriedabouthygiene]

Are you not a nurse or in nursing school at least? What type of position was the interview for? I find it very odd that non-nursing staff would be asked to draw up any meds.

I was applying for the receptionist position. The three other girls filling syringes were receptionists as well

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I was applying for the receptionist position. The three other girls filling syringes were receptionists as well

These were syringes of materials to be injected into patients? OMG. Not only do you need to get out of there, you need to call the state office that regulates physicians and report this practice. Today. Now. This is dangerously substandard and could lead to infections.