Cockroaches are driving me out of the hospital!

[raynefall]

I have never in my life seen so many cockroaches in a place of business! I work in a huge and OLD hospital and I have seen cockroaches in the halls, locker room, stairwell, medication room and everywhere else. I have been in the middle of conversations with my patient and I've seen a roach climb up the wall! I remember waiting for an elevator for at least 10 minutes and when it finally came, I noticed a cockroach who looked like it was pumped with steroids scurry in front of me. Being fearful of the thing, I went ahead and gave him/her/it that elevator. They know I'm frighten of them so they harass me!

I've also seen rats the size of armadillos in the parking garage and down the street.

I have had enough! I am scared of roaches and I start crying every time I see one. They are nasty! It seems like in addition to having my stethoscope, scissor and pen, I should carry around a can of raid!

I can only imagine what the cafeteria is like. I do not want to bring any of that nasty funk into my house or my pets!!

I can't imagine running a place of business with these pests running rampant. It makes no sense to me why TPTB let this go this far.

It is getting to the point where I am considering moving on, I don't mind facing my fears, but this is one fear that I rather leave alone. I'm just waiting for that day when a flying cockroach comes flying at me, that'll be the day that I quit!

[CHATSDALE]

sounds horrid - make a formal complaint - don't leave w/o reporting this to the an overseeing agency that can do something for the patientts

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

how yucky.. gross... they need to clean that place up. i would hate to see whats in the kitchen where the trays are prepared. i would report it.. i heard cockroaches carry dieases... eeekkk

[leslie :-D]

i agree w/above.

submit a formal grievance to your state's hospital association.

not only is this disgusting, it isn't safe.

i feel badly for you, and worse for the pts.

best of luck.

leslie

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Move on then call the health department. That place needs fumigated and quick. We occasionally see a bug or two but they are pretty far and few between. We have to remember also that the potential for patients to bring bugs into the facility in pockets and cuffs of pants and overnight bags is likely so getting the exterminator in regularly is absolutly necessary.

What do admininstration or engineering say about the issue? Has anyone asked?

[GingerSue]

report it - to administration, to the health department - it needs to be cleaned up

[grenada]

That state of affair in a hospital should not be tolerated!! Everyone is at risk!

I would not only move on, but call the regulatory body that oversees hospital administration in that State. I'd go one step further and draw media attention to the problem - as soon as possible.:angryfire

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

You need to rent the movie "Joe's Apartment", you would feel better about the little darlings.

I don't know how a hospital would/could tolerate this. You would think that they would have employed a "bug" service before things got out of hand.

Although I love the movie, I don't think I could tolerate this situation either. Good luck with your problem. Keep us posted.

[KR]

That is awful for the patients and staff alike. I would report it in writing to the Nurse Manager, Employee Health Nurse, Risk Management, and every one else up the Management chain of command. I would document like crazy. Then, I would quit. I would be contacting:

1-State Hospital Association

2-Department of Health

I hope this helps.

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

Two words: "Health Department"

Nothing to be afraid of, really, just that they are icky. As far as their being everywhere, though, the risk is that they carry contagion--and their toilet habits are very poor! (Cockroaches leave their poop everywhere.)

Call the health department.

[raynefall]

You need to rent the movie "Joe's Apartment", you would feel better about the little darlings.

Nope, not if there are roaches in it. If I come across a picture of one online I start bawling. It is a true fear and I don't care to see them..... I get enough of them at work.

We get alot of homeless patients and I have no doubt they bring most of them in. I heard they're almost impossible to get rid of, I hope that isn't true. It seems like regular pest control won't even begin to touch the problem.

[CHATSDALE]

roaches are indeed controlable but it takes vigilence.

post about being brought in by patients is absolutely right

once we had this new [to us] nurse and she went in to do initial assessment she removed a leg dressing and a roach ran out

she must have taken in stride because she stayed for about 6 months after that