Asymptomatic, no known exposure: Should we get tested?

[RNrhythm]

Bedside RN here. I have not knowingly cared for any COVID patients with active infection and most (but not all) of my patients have an in-house negative swab before they come to my unit.

I have never been tested. I have coworkers who get tested regularly on their own outside of work.

Should I have a COVID test?  What is your personal policy on the matter?

[toomuchbaloney]

On 12/8/2020 at 9:01 AM, hppygr8ful said:

Of course the problem is most employer's don't want to know this data!

Hppy

Lots of employers want and use daily or weekly covid tests... college football, for instance. 

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

OP the question is: what's the net gain for you? Just to know?

Based on what you describe, if you were positive it's more likely you acquired COVID from community and not work - no judgment there, none. It's not impossible that a nurse who faithfully donned PPE could get COVID but given what you're describing - you're probably not that nurse.

So: if you know there was an exposure, CDC is recommending a 3 day/7day post-exposure test (this is relatively new guidance as of this month).

If you're confident in your social distancing measures, the blood banks are now running antibody tests; caveat is that nobody really agrees those are worth anything except perhaps shortly after recovery.

A co-worker tested positive (turns out they had a little family party the weekend before they got sick). I was in the same office for a limited amount of time, both of us masked, and I got a test at five days post exposure because I have to see patients today and it was worth the $85 for the rapid PCR (which is not covered by insurance, but I did know by noon yesterday and didn't have to cancel my day). 

I loved @Nurse SMS's comment. Probably accurate and reminds me of my time working in the early days of HIV infection before there were meds, before the PCR testing, when people would have to wait six months post-exposure.

[RNrhythm, BSN, RN]

Original Poster here: A month and a half later, despite being very careful, I had very mild symptoms and tested positive last week. Symptoms resolved in a few days and I am quarantined from my family for 10 days, then back to work. Family quarantined too but all negative so far.

I was always masked, but with a procedure mask, not an N95. None of my patients were known to have COVID but may have converted just after admission. We have had outbreaks among staff, including several of my direct coworkers.

This time off has been interesting. I did not realize how stressed I was. I am looking forward to seeing my work friends next week but I am also thinking about how nice it will be to retire someday, or maybe take a job away from the bedside.