Have you ever convinced yourself...?

[RN403]

As a student nurse I once had a MRSA + patient, of course, they were on contact precautions. This was the first patient that I ever had that was on such precautions as I was in my very first clinical rotation. I was sure to maintain strict adherence to the recommended precautions for my safety and everyone else's safety.

After completing the clinical day, I returned home, showered, and was ready to start my clinical paperwork. I looked down at my hand and noticed a tiny red bump that I did not notice before. Immediately, I started to convince myself that I had contracted MRSA.

So, being a panicked new student, not knowing too much about this infection, I ran over to the all-knowing internet. The internet told me that "MRSA may appear as a small red bump, pimple, or boil." Upon further investigation I found a site that told me MRSA can start on the hand.

I spent the next 20 minutes washing and re-washing my hands. After I felt I somehow washed this potential MRSA away, I put a Band-Aid over my hand, as I was worried that it would spread.

In the end, of course, I did not contract MRSA. But, I had myself convinced for a while. I have been known to be a bit of a drama-queen.

Have you ever convinced yourself that you contracted something from a patient? Were you right or wrong?

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I did contract scabies. )-:

MRSA doesn't scare me because I know it needs a portal of entry to become systemic.

I itched a lot after I did head lice tx and body lice tx. I was scared I caught it but it was just nerves.

However, when my left back region, near the kidneys started having intermittent pain, I did worry about pancreatitis!!!! Haha! It was just muscle pain though, and working out fixed the problem, thank goodness!

[SeattleJess]

In my first semester of clinicals, I accidentally touched my mouth with a gloved hand after I touched a patient on contact precautions. I got so freaked out that I ran into the supply closet and put some alcohol foam IN MY MOUTH, then ran into the bathroom to spit it out.

I then got worried that someone would smell alcohol on my breath and not believe my story. So I went into the break room, and looked through drawers until I found some packs of mustard and pickle relish, which I then squeezed into my mouth and swished around until I couldn't stand it anymore. For the rest of the day, I didn't speak unless and didn't have a choice, and even then would barely part my lips.

I maintain that this behavior was a product of extreme stress and lack of sleep, and not sheer stupidity.

You are my soul sibling. I can so see myself doing this, too!

(Wonder if it would be enough to go straight to the mustard and pickle relish?)

[RN403, BSN, RN]

Thanks for sharing some great stories, everyone! :)

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

The only thing I've ever contracted from a patient was strep. This winter, about 5 days after this child was sitting on my lap putting his hands all over me (didn't know he had strep until a few days later), I developed a fever to 103, severe sore throat, night sweats, chills. I'd just returned from the developing world and hadn't taken malaria prophylaxis while there so, of course, that's the first thing I thought of when I started with these symptoms. Bypassed my primary MD and went straight to ID. Fortunately the doctor was smart enough to do a throat culture in addition to the more involved infectious work-up. Positive for strep.

I've never worried about MRSA or VRE and just assumed I was colonized with both because of the amount of exposure I've had in my career. Was surprised when I tested negative a few years ago when I was hospitalized.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I found myself trying to "figure out" everyone around me too after studying psychology. I found it a fascinating subject.

Interesting enough, I knew I had cyclic dysthymia nine years before I was diagnosed.

Very fascinating subject indeed.

[ICURN3020]

cyclic dysthymia /QUOTE]] I had to google that. I've never heard it stated in that term, although perhaps I did learn it in college and just forgot! Thanks, I love expanding my vocabulary! :)

[RN403, BSN, RN]

I also had to Google Cyclic Dysthymia, very interesting, thank you for sharing! It is always great to learn something new. :)

[Karou]

I have a bigger problem thinking that I'm immune to everything. I don't bat an eye at active MRSA, shingles, c-diff, ect...

I use contact precautions in those situations and am very confident that I'm safe.

I have had every bodily fluid possible on me at one point or another. I have gone home with it on my scrubs/shoes, I have gotten it on my bare skin, even in my hair. All this exposure and I rarely ever get sick!

One day my confidence is going to bite me in the butt. It's bound to. I'm the meantime I will stick with standard/contact precautions.

On a side note, and it's probably already been mentioned, but just think of all the times you are caring for a patient with an infectious disease and have NO IDEA! We don't know until we test, sometimes that patient has been in the hospital for days before a positive result will show. You have already been exposed to more than you could ever realize.

Oh and think about germs every time you go grocery shopping or use the phone at work. No one ever cleans those filthy grocery basket bars. That patient with a juicy MRSA hand infection will end up at walmart pushing a buggy that someone else will unknowingly use. Phones are used all the time and rarely cleaned.. For some reason those freak me out way more than caring for an infected person at work.

You aren't alone in your paranoia though. Most of us self diagnosed either ourselves or a loved one before after some dangerous googling.

[VANurse2010]

I would strongly advise you to stop worrying about this. MRSA is everywhere - including your home. You have an immune system for a reason and some hospitals no longer even isolate for it.