So I work in an AL facility. We have a resident with a bed bug problem in her apartment. The facility has been "treating" this for 1-2 months now. They have a pest guy come and spray once a week. I have complained about how disgusting this is and how I will be sending them a bill if they should show up at my home. They inform me that the treatment method is slow, but effective. BS. The life cycle is supposedly interrupted, but yet new "baby" bed bugs as well as mature ones keep showing up. This resident has thrown out all of their furniture, but it just doesn't matter.
I've been gone about a week and was hoping things we better under control, but it is worse. A nurse found one on herself after sitting in our nursing office. She also found several bites on her body.
I'm so over this place to begin with, but this is the final straw. I'm doing my best to limit me taking them home, but no matter what there is a risk. Anyone have any tips? They have some spray that we are supposed to spray our pants/shoes with. It supposedly repels them, but the nurse who just found one/was bitten sprays herself frequently and it obviously did nothing to protect her. I am searching for a new job ASAP. This is just the final straw in a series of problems.
My employer doesn't seem too concerned about it, mainly because they haven't migrated to the Admin's office yet. I bet when that happens they will ramp up the effort to clear these blood suckers out.
Meanwhile I am grossed out and paranoid.
You should sneak a couple of them into the Admin's office. That'll get the ball rolling!
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
1) Bed bugs are resistant to many pesticides and they also hide in places like sockets where the pesticide won't even reach. The only proven treatment is high heat (I think it is around 150 degrees) and if this is attached apartments the entire complex would need to be treated with the heat since they pass through walls. The heat treatment costs thousands of dollars which is why they are not doing it.
2) See number 1. If this is an apartment that is attached to other apartments treating one of the units is not doing anything since they will continue to pass through the walls and hide.
3) As another poster eluded to they will hitchhike home with you in a bag, or in your shoes etc, so don't take them into your home. I would document on an incident report about the problem every day you go to work so if you get them in your house you will have some legal recourse.
4) Please stop spraying yourselves in pesticide, you are poisoning yourselves and it doesn't work. As I said they are resistant to many pesticides.
5) I would quit that place ASAP in order to not risk getting bed bugs in my house!!
Temp based elimination can be achieved by stripping off all your clothes and all other belongings straight into dark-colored container and then sealing it and leaving it on the driveway in the middle of summer heat for a whole day - if you live somewhere South. Or doing the same in winter when there is at least 0F outside most of the time. I did that after "suspicious" motel stops in Texas and it seemed to work - or at least after it was done, bag discarded and clothes (those which were still there, because, unfortunately, someone clearly decided that the stuff was free for anyone to grab) washed, I stopped throwing reactions (for some strange reasons, bed bug bites look in me just like erythema nodosum, and the asthma flares up right away too).
I would really get out of there ASAP, and meanwhile stripe off clothes, shoes and everything else straight from myself and into hot washer and then hot dryer. If it is not feasible, I would go up to medical leave for the rest of the time.
I was already looking to get out. I am in a full time LPN-ADN transition program which is making it hard to find another job. My schedule is pretty stable, but no one wants the inconvenience of working around it which is absurd. I'm also the breadwinner so I can't just go without a paycheck. Believe me.. The first real job offer I get I am taking. This is beyond ridiculous! And yes I itch every second I am at work just knowing they are there.
evastone, BSN, RN
132 Posts
You should sneak a couple of them into the Admin's office. That'll get the ball rolling!