Any extra precautions for visitors due to swine flu?

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2009

Kinda hoping we close to everyone but parents. A girl can dream.

helicoptergal, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2009

I am wondering the same thing?? We just lifted RSV restrictions and now it seems like everyone and yes their grandmothers are allowed to visit. It makes me nervous.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Apr 29, 2009

Everyone and their grandmother can still visit here.... but we are still asking that people not visit if they are not feeling well.

+ hand hygeine

+ masks if resp symptoms, and we can't get rid of them

hikernurse · Apr 29, 2009

No changes here yet. Soon RSV restrictions will be lifted and we'll be full of siblings running around . We always ask people to not come if they're sick, but by the time s/s show, they've usually been contagious for awhile anyway.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Apr 29, 2009

We just got a memo that we are limiting visitors to parents and grandparents only for all peds inpatient areas. The adult ICU's are probably moving this way too. We have had a few cases here too, so our ID team is not taking any chances. We have had several docs that are from Mexico come back and they have to stay home until they are past the incubation period and they have also been swabbed.

dawnebeth · Apr 29, 2009

We hadn't lifted the RSV restrictions yet. We're in No. California, where there are already Swine flu cases, and we gets lots of people from Mexico, so now the ER is doing a mini-triage on everyone walking in the door. They should be wearing little stickers with a five finger hand (like stop) on their clothes once they passed the ER to prove that they can come past the lobby.

We are accepting any babies in our unit with flu-like symptoms, either, as we sometimes do in slow weeks when RSV season is upon us.

Dawn

dawnebeth · Apr 29, 2009

We hadn't lifted the RSV restrictions yet. We're in No. California, where there are already Swine flu cases, and we gets lots of people from Mexico, so now the ER is doing a mini-triage on everyone walking in the door. They should be wearing little stickers with a five finger hand (like stop) on their clothes once they passed the ER to prove that they can come past the lobby.

We are not accepting any babies in our unit with flu-like symptoms, either, as we sometimes do in slow weeks when RSV season is upon us.

Dawn

Sweeper933 · Apr 29, 2009

Haven't been to work since last week (had a nice stretch off) but it will be interesting to see what we are doing. Especially since as of this morning, there have been a few confirmed cases of swine flu in the area, one of which was an kid who lives somewhere in my neighborhood (local school is now closed for a few days). There is a large hispanic population in my area as well.

Should get interesting... (as if all of the TB stuff around here wasn't enough to deal with...)

lamazeteacher · Apr 29, 2009

We have to question each visitor before they come in as to if they have been to Mexico, and anyone sick acting is denied visitation until cleared with their doc. Also, we have had a few cases around here in schools.

That was done in Toronto, when SARS occurred; and stands with masks were available for anyone who was coughing, at the entrances of all facilities. I visited my sister there, months later, and at the airport they were still doing temperature screening. I asked a security person what that thing on the tripod was, and he said, "It just took your temperature". I told him to get it to hospitals for nurses to use, after the SARS experience was over. Can you imagine? The thing sweeps the halls and everyone's temp is done! Now if they could do that for BPs... and O2 sats.....

My sister (who is 10 years older than I am, and I'm 70) had wanted me to visit her in Toronto when the epidemic first appeared, and I refused. She said, "It's not right where I live!" Yah? While I was there, she casually mentioned that the 2nd and 3rd cases of SARS were a couple who lived next to her condo, on the 28th floor of her building. Obviously you'd be with them in the elevator for a while, if they took it with you.

What actually happened to those neighbors, was that the husband was admitted to the room in the hospital, for CHF where the first victim of SARS (a visitor from China) had been, contracted it within 6 hours and died before 24 hours was up. His wife contracted it from him and died, too. I would never have thought that my sister would be in such denial! She used to be a private investigator.... :bugeyes:

indigo girl · Apr 30, 2009

That was done in Toronto, when SARS occurred; and stands with masks were available for anyone who was coughing, at the entrances of all facilities. I visited my sister there, months later, and at the airport they were still doing temperature screening. I asked a security person what that thing on the tripod was, and he said, "It just took your temperature". I told him to get it to hospitals for nurses to use, after the SARS experience was over. Can you imagine? The thing sweeps the halls and everyone's temp is done! Now if they could do that for BPs... and O2 sats.....
My sister (who is 10 years older than I am, and I'm 70) had wanted me to visit her in Toronto when the epidemic first appeared, and I refused. She said, "It's not right where I live!" Yah? While I was there, she casually mentioned that the 2nd and 3rd cases of SARS were a couple who lived next to her condo, on the 28th floor of her building. Obviously you'd be with them in the elevator for a while, if they took it with you.
What actually happened to those neighbors, was that the husband was admitted to the room in the hospital, for CHF where the first victim of SARS (a visitor from China) had been, contracted it within 6 hours and died before 24 hours was up. His wife contracted it from him and died, too. I would never have thought that my sister would be in such denial! She used to be a private investigator....

That is some story. Denial can be a killer, but is how some people will cope. Nothing can be done about it, I have learned. We just have to do what we can do.

Thank you for all of the great advice that you have been giving on these panflu threads.

San Diego New Grad · May 11, 2009

Our ID department implemented a temporary policy to limit the number of visitors to 2 at a time, no kids under 16, and no one with flu symptoms. It was a nightmare on mother's day when everyone wanted to bring the kids to see grandma. I explained to several people that we're a transplant unit and that those restrictions are especially important now because our patients are immunosuppressed. Some were understanding, but some were pretty PO'd. I was tired of being the police, so I finally planted my butt on a computer in a back corner so I could get some charting done!