Roaches are going to drive me out of home care!!!

[hoolahan]

I feel like I should be called the Orkin Nurse, and instead of a backback, I should carry an orificenal of roach-killing chemicals.

I need a roach repellant perfume or something.

Yesterday MONSTER roach appeared too close to my coat, and I swear I could barely focus on my new admit, and I admit, I skimmed that OASIs faster than fast to get the heck outta there!

Today, very clean house, in the midst of several abandoned ones boarded up in a drug-infested neighborhood, and I know that is always a bad thing, a draw for roaches and rodents, and it isn't the fault or lack of cleanliness of the people I serve but ...

People I have a serious issue, fear-factor, r/t roaches. I am not sure I could even get away w asking not to be sent there, it wouyld only mean some other poor nurse gets stuck w that many more roach motels.

Let me put it this way, if I were on that show fear factor and I could be given a million dollars to enter a room swarming w roaches, I would probably hurl at the thought.

Today, sitting in this clean rose among the thorns, and here comes da beast, crawling up the couch I was just sitting on, once again too close to my personal stuff. At least in the summer, I don't have a coat or so many pockets and stuff w me for the creepy critters to hide in.

I can't function like this, I get tunnel vision, and I do struggle to keep cool and remain non-judgemental, esp w the older folks.

Help me!! Should I seek deconditioning? I think this is NORMAL to not like roaches. Yesterday's man carried his med zippered bag in and tried to hand it to me w a monster roach on it!! I asked him to set it on the table and take out the bottles one by one so we could review it, I wasn't touching that freakin bag!!

I have been going into the dregs of the city w/o a roach-free home lately, and I can't take it much longer. I am not only afraid of these things touching me, or getting into my clothes, but of bringing them into my home by accident. My winter coat is still in my car b/c I was afraid to bring it inside. I am seriously stressing here!!!

What would you do? I have no problem w dogs, snakes, or other creatures, just bugs tarantula spiders, roaches, NASTY stuff.

[kittyw]

This reminds me of the time that my bf and I were at the pool in Flordia. I was standing on the steps going in and he was out of the pool facing me. He startled this roach (and it startled him), and the roach ran right towards me as though it were attacking me. I screamed and jumped out of the pool, and it ran straight into the pool.

We let it drown. Stupid thing.

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

I am going to add a can of raid to my backpack, I have just the right pocket for it....just kidding. Knowing my luck, my pt would get dysneic frm the raid fumes, and I would be blamed.

We are not allowed to refuse to go to these places.

This has made me feel better though. Just needed to vent!

[sanakruz, ADN]

DROWN 'EM ALL!!!!!

[MandyInMS]

Ever notice how when you get on a topic like this that you start to ITCH ??? haha

[LoisJean]

Roaches! Spiders big as my wrist! Rats, Bats, Snakes of all kinds! God, I love Home Care!

Had a patient once with a gaping abd wound which we had to pack bid...her snakes were boas...she kept a bunch of mice in a box under her wood burning cook stove - (no electricity- so I guess you know we tried REAL hard to get that last dressing change done before dark!) anywho...once in a while she'd open up the box and pull out a mouse and toss it on the floor....ever see how fast a boa constrictor can move? Back in those days Public Health didn't concern themselves with too much unless your roof caved in or the outdoor privvy needed emptying.

inner city RATS! Man they are every where and they are not shy! They don't care who you are or what time of the day it is...if they want to see what your doing out they come! Had one attack my foot once...glad I was wearing my biker boots. I kicked the sob half a mile into next Sunday; he hit the wall and honest to god flattened himself like a pancake and scooted into a crack in the baseboard!

Roaches! They are right up there with the 6 inch long centipedes that slither around in shag carpeting. Can't see 'em because they tend to blend in with the rug....until they start crawling up your leg. I FELT it before I SAW it. Blech!

Maybe we should have an inservice by that Alligator guy, Steve whatshisname?

Peace,

Lois Jean

[sunnygirl272]

Originally posted by LoisJean

....Maybe we should have an inservice by that Alligator guy, Steve whatshisname?

Peace,

Lois Jean

naaah...we should give him an inservice...i'm sure we all have seen more horrifying grody things than he has,.....

[JedsMom, ASN, RN]

OMG!! I could NOT deal with roaches, spiders or any other kind of bug. You are a stronger person then me!!

Now about the horse - I have in the past when I was a teenager, rode my horse into my moms living room just to see if I could;) but NOT one living in the house:eek:

[Brita01]

I also have a roach phobia. Can't watch anything on tv concerning them. I loved the X-files, but there is apparently some kind of roach episode that I refuse to even start watching. 'Creepshow' has a story about roaches that I saw once and it made me ill. 'Joe's Apartment' had several MTV sketches that made me turn the channel immediately when I saw one coming on.

When I did home health last summer, I went to this one house that had no indoor plumbing and was absolutely filthy. And I had to stay there the longest because there were multiple home health care recipients. I always tried to go in there and do the work as fast as I could without looking around the environment too hard. If I don't see it, it might be there, but at least it won't make me queesy. One day I got distracted and had the unfortunate opportunity to look at the sofa one of the patients had just gotten up from. Instead of looking away I felt compelled to stare at a certain spot, and right before my eyes about a hundred roaches came scurrying out of one of the creases. I got lightheaded and thought that I would pass out. But the thought of falling on that awful floor and something crawling over me sobered me up real quick. :roll (not really rolling on the floor)

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I used to go into the projects both in Columbus and some bad Toledo areas. One time the home was so infested they were in the furnature, beds, on the walls and ceilings. One fell in my hair and I let out a hollar and scared the client half to death. LOL. Funny now but it was not at the time!

renerian:eek: :eek:

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Brita...ITA!!! What the heck is with these roaches?? I thought they were attracted to filth, and food/refuse. What are they doing coming out of sofas and in bathrooms where there is no food source for them??? They should stay the heck in the kitchen where the ...belong...??? I can't believe I said that,m but then we would be free of them if we didn't go in the kitchens of these homes. Thank God for antiseptic (waterless) handwash is all I can say!!!!

[Brita01]

Originally posted by hoolahan

Brita...ITA!!! What the heck is with these roaches?? I thought they were attracted to filth, and food/refuse. What are they doing coming out of sofas and in bathrooms where there is no food source for them??? They should stay the heck in the kitchen where the ...belong...??? I can't believe I said that,m but then we would be free of them if we didn't go in the kitchens of these homes. Thank God for antiseptic (waterless) handwash is all I can say!!!!

I can only guess what was on that sofa. Meals were eaten on it, and all 3 patients were incontinent. As far as the handwashing, that alcohol gel stuff in the bottle didn't cut it when I left out of that place. I had to give myself a "bath" with many wetwipes as soon as I got in my car. :chuckle

[nurse_robin]

This entire thread is too funny! Brings back memories of my home health days in Philly......I could work around the roaches(quickly), but the fleas!!! Believe me, it is no fun to get flea bitten and then bring them home to your family!