Why do nurses clean off their shoes at work?

[BSNbeauty]

I work with a nurse that wipes off her shoes with cavi wipes at the beginning and end of shift. Ive seen other nurses do this as well at other facilities I have worked at. I just do not understand it. You are cleaning your shoes only to walk on the same dirty floor again? Then you clean your shoes after work to walk on the street with the same shoes you just cleaned??? If you are that paranoid about germs then how about wearing shoe covers at work or changing your shoes before getting in your car. Idk. This whole concept just seems ludacris to me.

[Teresag_CNS]

Doesn't do any harm to clean your shoes more often. And it may reduce the bacterial burden on your shoes, keeping you from tracking it everywhere.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

So why do we clean out hands at work? Um , because our hands are used during direct patient care while the soles of our shoes are not. Still don't see the point of cleaning the soles of our shoes to walk on the dirty floor ...

[Lola Lou, BSN]

I look at my shoes as just one more mode of transportation for germs. If I am in a particularly "germy" room my goal is to decrease my chances of tracking them out in to the hall and other pt rooms. Just a personal preference.

[MommyandRN]

I have cleaned my shoes with a cavi wipe at work. On a regular day, I just take them off at the door of my home. On a day that I've been in an isolation room, or stepped in poop or something, I will wipe them at the end of my shift. Who cares? Maybe if you see someone doing this, just ignore them.

[Argo]

So then don't clean your shoes. Why do you care so much if other people want clean shoes? Another one of those things that falls into that category of "who cares what everyone else is doing"

[DoeRN]

So why do we clean out hands at work? Um because our hands are used during direct patient care while the soles of our shoes are not. Still don't see the point of cleaning the soles of our shoes to walk on the dirty floor ...[/quote']

Why don't you ask you coworkers why since you aren't getting the answer you are looking for on this forum?

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Ludicrous = ridiculous

Ludacris = rapper/ musician

You're welcome

:up: just...great... awesome post!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I have cleaned my shoes with a cavi wipe at work. On a regular day I just take them off at the door of my home. On a day that I've been in an isolation room, or stepped in poop or something, I will wipe them at the end of my shift. Who cares? Maybe if you see someone doing this, just ignore them.[/quote']

I can see the reason of using a cavi wipe when you had a pt in isolation. Also, sometimes "visibly soiled" does not mean that your shoes are soiled.

[intothecosmos]

In short answer, would you like to pass VRE or MRSA into a cancer patient's room by way of your shoes? Most of them are long-term care. Their room is their home, they walk around on it barefoot. How would you like it if someone trampled through MRSA and VRE and then trampled it into your room? You wouldn't appreciate it when you came down with MRSA and/or VRE. You obviously haven't been a nurse for very long if you don't know simple contact routes for germs. I keep cavi wipes on hand and use them to scrub the bottom of my shoes whenever I come out of a highly contaminated room. It's just common sense. At least if I do it, I know I am reducing contamination elsewhere. Considering the prevalence of MRSA and VRE in the hospitals, it's something everyone should take seriously.

[Guest372004]

I have several pairs of work shoes and not one has ever touched the floor in my house. The only time shoes are allowed in my house is when I have a party. So why does my house still get dirty?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Re read my op please. Why would you use cavi wipes for your shoes prior to your shift or mid shift and continue to walk on the same floor in the same shoes? Are you not re-contaminating your shoes shoes by doing this?

Gee. Maybe to prevent bringing in stuff on your shoes from the outside world?

And it's "ludicrous." "Ludacris" is some sort of entertainer.

[PRNketamine]

Gee. Maybe to prevent bringing in stuff on your shoes from the outside world?

And it's "ludicrous." "Ludacris" is some sort of entertainer.

Ohhh. I wish I could "like" this post from the all nurses app.