Clinical Paranoia

[eastcoastsurf]

Have you guys ever been paranoid? One time during clinical, I introduced myself to my patient and shook his hands. He had Herpes Stomatitis, but his hands were dry. I'm still paranoid about it.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

As long as you are following standard precautions, good hand hygiene, and any isolation the patient should be on, you will be fine. If he has active herpes then he should have been on contact precautions.

Educating yourself also helps, too. Herpes stomatitis is a form of the oral herpes simplex virus. It is spread through body lfuids and direct contact. Meaning that the patient would have had to touch a sore, touch your hand, and your hand would have had to touch your mouth, nose, eyes, or an open wound.

[Clovery]

2 weeks ago I was in the pediatric ER. At least 5 different kids came in with fever and/or rash from viral illnesses. I don't think I've ever felt so dirty as I did by the end of the night. I came home, stripped in the garage, and ran into the shower where I scrubbed myself from head to toe. The next day I wiped down every part of my car with disinfectant lol. It may have been extreme but I was worried that I'd carry germs home and get my 9 month old sick, which is the last thing I need while in nursing school.

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

only once, when i had to do an observation rotation at a free clinic.. some guy came in with bed bugs and walked right past the nurses station i was sitting at and i could actually SEE the bed bugs on him. i felt itchy the whole day and was paranoid for weeks that i had brought bed bugs home. yuck

[eastcoastsurf]

As long as you are following standard precautions, good hand hygiene, and any isolation the patient should be on, you will be fine. If he has active herpes then he should have been on contact precautions.

Educating yourself also helps, too. Herpes stomatitis is a form of the oral herpes simplex virus. It is spread through body lfuids and direct contact. Meaning that the patient would have had to touch a sore, touch your hand, and your hand would have had to touch your mouth, nose, eyes, or an open wound.

He wasn't in an iso room and I took every precaution except when I shook his hands. I washed my hands afterwards.

[eastcoastsurf]

only once, when i had to do an observation rotation at a free clinic.. some guy came in with bed bugs and walked right past the nurses station i was sitting at and i could actually SEE the bed bugs on him. i felt itchy the whole day and was paranoid for weeks that i had brought bed bugs home. yuck

same, I scrubbed down every part of my body, I'm still a little paranoid