MRSA again- Are You Kidding Me???

I too have previously taken care of a MRSA patient in a nursing home.
Was not even told he had contracted MRSA until I was already in his room
with another aide. As we took away the sheet to provide care, I saw his leg
was extensively bandaged. So I asked him what was wrong and if he minded
my asking him. He said no that he had just gotten back (from being at a very
well known hospital in our area) about 10 days ago and that they had to cut his
leg open and scrape some of it out. Next thing you know the words MRSA came
right straight out of his lips. Mind you as soon as he said "scrape something out"
MRSA was already in my head. We talked with out head nurse. She also claimed
it was not that big of a deal. My concerns to her was we were using a lift to move
the individual. The lift sling was then used on other patients in other rooms. And like
one of the above posters, he also was allowed to freely leave his room and go to the
dining room to play bingo!

If his wound was covered so were you. MRSA in a wound is contact precautions. Did you touch the wound? If not, you are safe. I wouldn't use the same sling.

with all due respect- I treat every wound, urine and feces with Universal Precautions, safer that way, and if a pt is coughing, move back- 3 feet or more, there is more MRSA than we know, why take chances and for goodness sakes, dont wear your dirty uniform home- change to street clothes and bring your uniform in a bag- wash appropriately- you dont want to share the germs with your busmates and family.

Do not make the mistake of thinking a MRSA colonized patient is not contageous. They are indeed contageous, and are considered reservoirs of MRSA. Most Hospitals and LTCs don't bother to screen for colonization in non symptomatic patients and that is probably a big reason there is so much MRSA in all facilities. CDC doesn not have a recommendation about when to stop Contact/droplet precautions. Why are you writing one? Better safe than sorry if you believe your patient is colonized.
Any coughing patient with respiratory MRSA infection or colonization should have contact precautions and mask. If you are doing anything that involves contact with the patient and or his immediate environment, handwashing, gloves, gown and mask.
To protect yourself, just do it. Is it against the rules to protect yourself in your LTC?