I'd like to ask a question of you experienced nurses out there. Last semester in clinicals I was asked to collect a stool sample for a patient I had been assigned to. It was my first rotation and only the second patient I had. Anyway, I took the proper precaution -- wore the gloves, handwashing, etc., and collected the sample. Two weeks later, when I was assigned to this patient again, I found that she had been placed in contact precautions because she had C-Diff (that's what I was collecting the sample for.) I was outraged that i was not told of this because there are of course extra precautions to take when dealing with something like this. (C-Diff is extremely contagious). In any case, being that I have two small children at home, my worst fear is picking something up and bringing it home to my kids. I am concerned with the fact that you don't always know what you are walking into and it's a very vulnerable position to be in as a nurse. I am wondering if you other nurses share my fear, and how do you handle it? Thanks so much!