dirty scruabs

Published

Would someone share with me what is the proper hygiene reguarding dirty scrubs after a shift, especially for those who care for the elderly in nursing homes. Do you change before you go home, or do you where the scrubs home and them change? Please inform, I have a friend who stops by my home after a shift, without changing, and I can't help but wonder how many germs she is carrying around.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd say different people are different. Some wish they could strip to the bare skin before entering their houses and wish they had a shower in the garage and some just wear their scrubs on errands and wherever they go after work. I'd say just speak up to your friend if you wish she wouldn't come over in soiled scrubs after a shift, if it bothers you.

Missy

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

That's why my shoes stayed on the porch, socks and scrubs into the washer right inside the back door. Bedroom is across the house so housecoat is on a peg right above. Could you at least ask your friend to wear a cover coat and leave the shoes on the step?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I didn't worry in LTC since most of my folks were just old, with various problems inherent to age, not germs.

That said, were I caring for someone with someone infectious or had I gotten slimed I would always go straight home and shower and change.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

In my house, we really only worry about shoes and hands. Shoes off (and on) at the doorstep, and hands washed immediately. I will go grocery shopping or on a quick errand in my scrubs, mainly because by the time I go home and change I am not going back across town.

I would not be likely to visit a friend in my scrubs unless we worked together and then went for breakfast or coffee (I don't like my scrubs as much as jeans and I kind of stick out). One of my roommates who is a nurse will not go anywhere without showering, which is her preference. On a particularly bad day I might know that my clothing is dirty or have that smell that I just can't shake, even with three showers, and then I will not go anywhere until I am sure I am clean. Funny though, nobody else seems to smell it. Must be in my head!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.
I didn't worry in LTC since most of my folks were just old, with various problems inherent to age, not germs.

It may be different in your area, but the town I'm in basically every LTC patient we get in the hospital has MRSA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Its a rule in our hospital that we cant come in or leave in our scrubs. And I agree with it, although I bring the scrubs home to wash, I change into my own clothes before leaving work, leave the shoes there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I worked at the LTC, I wore mine home and changed in the house. I used Clorox 2 on them, and hung them inside the house so I wouldn't get bird droppings on them. I also didn't let my cat sit on them when I was getting dressed. I guess I was more worried about dragging germs into the facility, than taking them home. Besides, I don't have a garage attached to my house, and I wasn't going to change in the yard.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
It may be different in your area, but the town I'm in basically every LTC patient we get in the hospital has MRSA.

There's a very good chance that you are a MRSA carrier. MRSA is known to live in the nasal passages and cause no symptoms for the strong, healthy person.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

I wouldn't be concerned unless there are immune compromised members in your family. MRSA isn't really carried in scrubs that I know of.

Handwashing. Handwashing. Handwashing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.
It may be different in your area, but the town I'm in basically every LTC patient we get in the hospital has MRSA.

We did a study because it seemed that way too, but actually it turned out that "only" 33% of LTC patients were colonized with MRSA. A dreadful number indeed, but not as bad as we feared.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac.

I walk into my house, put my shoes in the shoe rack with all the other shoes, and just toss my scrubs in with the other dirty laundry. I wash them with the regular laundry and on regular cycle.

The people at the mall probably have just as much dirty germs as the people I work with. I'm not really concerned with it in the least. Seriously.

My husband works at a hospital too. He's walking through all the departments. He doens't strip bare naked when he comes home either.

Sometimes people are so germphobic!

Oh, and I almost never get sick.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion