Visit Nurse Handwashing

Jan 26, 2009 07:43 AM

by athomemom56

Hello All,
I have lots of questions today lol!
As a visit nurse, I am in and out of many clients homes. What do you use to dry your hands after washing? I just dont feel comfortable drying my hands on clients towels in their bathrooms and they don't always have paper towels available. What I did this morning was take a small baggie and folded up some paper towels and put them inside. I did just enough for the day in each baggie and enough for the week.....5 baggies.....5 folded P.T. inside. What do you do? I know there is hand sanitizer, but I also don't like the idea of using this stuff long term, plus it dries out my hands so bad and from what I understand, it doesn't kill the c.diff bacteria.
Barbra

*caliotter3* · Jan 26, 2009, 07:24 PM

Re: Visit Nurse Handwashing

Your idea is about the best solution I can think of. Most people don't put out paper towels just for us.

Itshamrtym · Jan 27, 2009, 01:41 PM

Re: Visit Nurse Handwashing

Originally Posted by athomemom56

Hello All,
I have lots of questions today lol!
As a visit nurse, I am in and out of many clients homes. What do you use to dry your hands after washing? I just dont feel comfortable drying my hands on clients towels in their bathrooms and they don't always have paper towels available. What I did this morning was take a small baggie and folded up some paper towels and put them inside. I did just enough for the day in each baggie and enough for the week.....5 baggies.....5 folded P.T. inside. What do you do? I know there is hand sanitizer, but I also don't like the idea of using this stuff long term, plus it dries out my hands so bad and from what I understand, it doesn't kill the c.diff bacteria.
Barbra

Bringing your own paper towels is a great idea!!! I do private duty @ the same client for a shift... And I don't use their towels (ewww).. Not sure how often they change them etc... Very anal about this. My one client is young, so Mom still uses cloth diapers for drooling etc. I hang up one of those in the bathroom for my use that shift, or use her paper towels. I feel bad using so many paper towels, so that is why I use the very soft, absorbent diaper. I hope that I don't offend her by not using her towels?? But again... I'm with you.. I WILL NOT use their towels. I once had a case where the nurses had their own towel.. The same towel... Never got washed.
This case had 24-7 coverage. I told the parents about that nasty towel too... It stank to high heaven and was sour!!!! GROSS.. So on that case I provided paper towels for all of us.

athomemom56 · Jan 27, 2009, 02:56 PM

Re: Visit Nurse Handwashing

Exactly. I even change face and bath towels daily and so does my son. Once a towel is used, it goes in the dirty clothes. I have tons of face and bath towels, so it's no problem. That's just me.
Barbra

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Visit Nurse Handwashing

Visit Nurse Handwashing

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