Can nurses with MRSA work?

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An RN friend I work with, was just diagnosed with MRSA from a nasal sore. Can she still work as an ICU RN? Can the hospital make her take a leave? She is debating whether or not to tell our employer. She has a mortgage and cannot afford to be out of work. Is it any of their business and what protections will she have (many of our pts. have MRSA and that is where she got it).

Specializes in ER, Urgent care, industrial, phone triag.

The problems with MRSA colonized and/or infected Nurses or HCWs.

1. you can spread disease with either condition

2. you don't have infected family members but are constantly exposed to MRSA on your job, yet your employers deny workmans comp for missed work and treatment of MRSA.

3. Ignoring MRSA will not make it go away. You should report your MRSA to your hospital IC department. Refusing to be screened will not help you or your patients.

4. Fight for better prevention of MRSA in your facilities in the form of Active Detection and Isolation. Rapid MRSA screening will allow early or immediate diagnosis of colonization and Isolation and contact precautions can be enacted right away... meaning fewer unprotected exposures for HCWs.

If you are a HcW...and need surgery, DEMAND a screening. If you won't do that, then get your doctor to prescribe decolonization (mupirocin in the nares for 5 days and chlorhexidine showers prior to surgery). You still will not know if you are colonized, so the appropriate preoperative antibiotics may not be used.

And finally, never ignore precautions and/handwashing.

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Everyone has staph on their skin

Staph aureus does not equal MRSA.

I had a recurrent abscess that was a hospital acquired MRSA. Eventually developed an allergy to Sulfa and linezolid. Had to have a PICC and IV Vanc to get rid of the bug!

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Can she still work ?.

Of course! MRSA isn't going to spread itself for pete's sake.

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Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.

Ethically it is wrong for her to put her patient's at risk. She should notify her manager and the infection control department. Most hospitals require 2 clear nasal swabs to take patient off of isolation. I would think they would have her take her abx until the sore is heals. Then nasally test her x2 if clear she could work. Money is nothing compared to living with the thought that you might have given the immunocomp. patient something that could be deadly to them?

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