Any advice for entering unclean and/or bug infested houses?

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Specializes in nursing home, home care, family practice.

I love my job, but I am tired of going into certain homes that are not clean, are infested with mice, or roaches, or countless critters that I have to worry about bringing home with me, or taking to other clients' homes. The agency knows that I dislike these types of houses, but (!) guess where I keep ending up (!) I'm even thinking about switching to an agency that will allow me to be more selective of where I go, and keep me with a steady "usual" client, where I know I feel I am working in a clean and safe environment. But, since I do absolutely love working with clients I have with this agency (who maintain healthier environments) I'd like to avoid switching agencies... I guess that's how they get ya... I was wondering if anybody has worked in any types of infested homes, and how the heck you deal with it.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Quite often, in fact. I deal with it by reminding myself that these individuals are every bit as deserving of help, care, and intervention as those in the finest mansions.

I think of what it's like working as a volunteer out in the bush or in seriously underprivileged countries, where this is common. I think of what nursing really is and was intended to be. I think of those that first started Visiting Nurses.. I'm sure this was common then as well.

While it's never a pleasant experience, it is humbling, and reminds us that the world we live in is often not what others have the luxury of living in.

I do love the variety...

All need our care. All deserve our care. This is the true heart of nursing. Reaching out..touching the untouchable.

If not we, then who? :)

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Yeahh, I have worked in those type of houses. Ants don't bother me too much. Roaches freak me right the he1l out, though. I just tried to be really, really careful about where I set my stuff down. I carry a lot of stuff (prob too much). One day a medium sized cockroach actually crawled out of my bag!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: So now I carry as little as possible in, keep things zipped/closed up and literally shake the pages of books. Those things are very tricky.

I've yet to refuse to go to their houses, but a resp.therapist I know will not go there anymore. Roaches like machines that are warmed. Like ventilators. "Nuff said. :uhoh21:

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When we, at our agency, have to endure an infested home we take a stethoscope and bp cuff only. Try to remember the vs and record them later. I have already taken a plastic grocery bag with ONLY what I needed for certain visits, particularly if they needed wound care. . I never take my nursing bag into homes that have infestations. I have to defend myself also, I could potentially carry roaches from the home to my car and to my home (YUCK)!! We have an senior apt building we go into daily that had a bed bug infestation, we were on bp cuff and stethoscope only mode there also for several weeks till they felt they had it under control.

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Yeahh, I have worked in those type of houses. Ants don't bother me too much. Roaches freak me right the he1l out, though. I just tried to be really, really careful about where I set my stuff down. I carry a lot of stuff (prob too much). One day a medium sized cockroach actually crawled out of my bag!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: So now I carry as little as possible in, keep things zipped/closed up and literally shake the pages of books. Those things are very tricky.

I've yet to refuse to go to their houses, but a resp.therapist I know will not go there anymore. Roaches like machines that are warmed. Like ventilators. "Nuff said. :uhoh21:

Roaches also like nice warm computers. I would be hesitant about taking a laptop into an infested home, even if it belonged to the company.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

Agree with the above.. take in only what you absolutely have to, in a disposable bag that you can shake out once you leave the home and before you get into your car. ;)

A piece of scratch paper to jot down vitals and other needed info.

It's rough out there sometimes. But... it is what it is.

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Specializes in HHA, ER, PACU.

Ziplock baggies are great for nasty homes. You can see if anything tries to leave with you.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Ditto to taking in only what you need. But where are you going to find an agency that lets you pick and choose who you see and who you don't? None of the certified agencies around here work like that.

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