I'm not sure what to do! I have a history of contact allergies but had been doing pretty good since I had allergy testing and was avoiding allergens. But I just graduated nursing school and started working in a hospital in February.
It takes awhile for the allergens to really get to me, plus I had had a steroid shot in late February, so I had developed a false sense of security that the hand sanitizer was going to be OK even though my dermatologist and I worried it would be an issue.
I hadn't said anything about the allergies to work because for some reason I thought it wasn't going to be an issue as I had gone months without breaking out.
Well today I woke up with my hands so swollen and cracking and broke out I can barely move my fingers. I went to the dermatologist and got a steroid shot but she says she's positive its the hand sanitizer and I can't use it.
First off, I guess I'm going to have to call out my whole three shifts for this week which I don't even have enough PTO for and I feel like makes me look horrible as a new employee.
Also, wth can I do about the hand sanitizer issue. My dermatologist is going to look for a santizer I can use, but in the meantime? I have no idea what to do or if we are even allowed to use a different one than they supply. I emailed my manager explaining everything but I don't know what to do. I cried my eyes out this morning because this is not how I wanted to start my career and I'm terrified that I look horrible or that I won't be able to find a solution...
I don't know what I want anyone to tell me, I guess I just need some support
Occupational Health isn't approving it though. They gave me a list and said I have to use one of them.
I would appeal to the infection control expert physicians and IC-certified nurses in the facility. I'll give you dollars to doughnuts they know a lot more about it than Occ Health.
Also you might mention that if you are disabled from work as a result of this requirement, the worker's comp bill to the hospital will be considerable. That's a trip to the hospital risk manager, but could be instructive. ?
I already have a risk management appointment Wednesday so maybe they can help. I didn't really know what it's all about. The occ health np said it was to "determine if it's really work related" since I have a history of contact allergies/eczema...
There's a basic premise in work comp that if they hire you and you are injured, they have to cover you. This includes if you had a preexisting condition. It's called the "fragile eggshell" theory. They hired you as you were. Now it's on them. Good idea from Esme about OSHA and they have to make it possible to do your job. Between those two plus the infectious disease specialist, you should be well-armed when you go in.
If you have malpractice insurance, this would be a really good time to contact your atty there. If you are in a union, get your union rep to accompany you. Don't sign anything. If they press you, take a copy and say you'll get back to them.
Of course it's work-related. Your primary care can easily say that you have never been this affected until you started working for them, including while you were in school and (presumably) washing your hands in clinical.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
ama3t said:
I already have a risk management appointment Wednesday so maybe they can help. I didn't really know what it's all about. The occ health np said it was to "determine if it's really work related" since I have a history of contact allergies/eczema...
DO NOT TRUST THEM! Sign NOTHING! They will look for any way out of this...they are going to claim it isn't work related and if you had a pre-existing condition that will make you unable to perform your job OR cost them money AND you didn't TELL them they may be looking for a way to back out of the offer of employment or not give you what you need call OSHA. Call you malpractice if you have it (side note EVERY NURSE should have malpractice)
I don't have malpractice! I did in school but I guess I've been been so overwhelmed with orientation and signing up for benefits and all it didn't cross my mind...
I'm supposed to go back to work Thursday night. With no malpractice insurance or union is there anyone else I could contact? I got a month before the steroid shot wears off and I'm not sure if I'll be able to get another. For obvious reasons my seem doesn't like to give them.
These breakouts are debilitating! My fingers swell and weep. I can barely bend them without them cracking open not to mention I barely go in public because it's humiliating and extremely difficult to comb my hair or even dress myself when it's bad
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
If it's been a short (sometimes up to 60 days) time since your policy lapsed you may be able to reinstate without penalty. I know I had 60 days with NSO...it slipped my mind and I got a new grad premium discount.
I don't have malpractice! I did in school but I guess I've been been so overwhelmed with orientation and signing up for benefits and all it didn't cross my mind...
I'm supposed to go back to work Thursday night. With no malpractice insurance or union is there anyone else I could contact? I got a month before the steroid shot wears off and I'm not sure if I'll be able to get another. For obvious reasons my seem doesn't like to give them.
These breakouts are debilitating! My fingers swell and weep. I can barely bend them without them cracking open not to mention I barely go in public because it's humiliating and extremely difficult to comb my hair or even dress myself when it's bad
Thanks so much for the advice everyone
If you have your ducks in a row with the articles on handwashing,a written statement from the infection control doc (if you don't have it yet, go visit him/her TODAY and wait until lunch or after office hours if you have to), the OSHA mandates, the info on work comp/eggshell, and you don't sign anything, I think you might be very well-positioned for that meeting. They will be surprised because at this point they may think they hold all the cards, but they don't. You might want to bring a trusted friend/colleague, and don't let them tell you that you can't, because you can bring anyone you like to such a meeting as a "note-taker" (read: witness)...especially as your hands are trash, right?
If after that meeting you feel that they are threatening you or backing you into a corner, The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) is a good next step.
Also, if they relent and agree to the bar soap (Aveeno) and you can't find it in liquid there are ways to make bar soap liquid. A quick google search will show you how.
Seconding everyone else's advice; hope everything goes well for you at the meeting.
I've had allergic reactions to just about every chemical product I've come in contact with; when I started working in healthcare I started bringing liquid castile soap with me (the only ingredient is saponified olive oil). I also have a sanitizer with neem and coconut oils, which have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, but I hardly ever use it; most of the time just washing is good enough to get rid of germs.
I've never said anything about my allergies or using my own soap, just because I don't want to deal with any nonsense from corporate. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but I'd recommend using your own soap and not asking permission in the future.
I am a college student studying my prerequisite classes for a nursing program. After this semester I will be on the 1 year wait list. I have some concerns regarding nursing as a career. I also have issues with hand allergies and eczema. The skin breaks on my fingers from time to time. I use bar soap and that helps but my fingers still break open occasionally. I have noticed that the more I wear gloves the worse my hands get. Powdered gloves are the worst. Non powdered gloves help but still agitate my hands. At my current job I do not have to wash my hands or wear gloves all that much and my hands still crack. I know when I am a nurse I will be required to wash and wear gloves often. Anyways, I was wondering how your hand allergy situation worked out as a nurse. Do you think that nursing is worth the stuggle? Should I consider another career path? I fear that I may invest a lot of time and effort into a career that I may not be able to perform and If I can it may bring me lots of pain.
You won't look horrible if you take your doctor's excuse into hr and your manager. It's not like you chose for this to happen. And your health and well-being matters too. Hoefully you, your dr, and the hospital can agree on alternative to the sanitizer they carry!
nurseprnRN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 5,116 Posts
I would appeal to the infection control expert physicians and IC-certified nurses in the facility. I'll give you dollars to doughnuts they know a lot more about it than Occ Health.
Also you might mention that if you are disabled from work as a result of this requirement, the worker's comp bill to the hospital will be considerable. That's a trip to the hospital risk manager, but could be instructive. ?
Here's some things to get you started.
Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives | CDC
Plain Soap As Effective As Antibacterial But Without The Risk -- ScienceDaily
Washing Hands With Soap vs. Hand Sanitizer: Which Is Better? - ABC News
Hand Sanitizers: Do They Help Stop All Germs?
Hand sanitizers are good; soap and water are better