Do you shower right after your shift?

vwbeetle · Jul 16, 2011

I volunteer 3HRS per wk at a local hospital.

As soon as I get home, I shower. Although I wear a gown, I don't like the smell of the hospital nor the smell of latex gloves that I put on.

Although I don't do those complexed tasks like the CNAs and the RNs, I think showering as soon as I get home would be safer.

Just like in my chemistry class, where we were told in the beginning, to make sure we wash our hands after we finish the lab, in order not to contaminate our belongings; I think it's a good idea to shower after nursing shift.

My 2cents.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jul 16, 2011

People have all different kinds of post-shift hygiene rituals. Personally, I shower before my butt hits a horizontal surface. It's about germs, yes, but it's also because I know if I don't, it will never happen. And I have to go to bed clean. Reality is that we were probably exposed to most germs we encounter at work before we ever got to work - after all, who really knows what germs that previous Walmart patron left on your shopping cart handle? - but it's a mental thing for me.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2011

No, and I go straight to bed when I get home; after pouring myself a glass of merlot, of course.

I change out of my scrubs prior to leaving work, and I leave my work shoes at work.

I don't separate my scrubs from the rest of my laundry, either.

Since I wash/gel my hands between every patient contact and follow transmission based precautions, I'm not really very worried about spreading disease.

NIGHTINGALE-RN · Jul 16, 2011

With so much MRSA, C-Diff,around me , and having kids around, I go straight to shower asap. I will not sit with my scrubs on my couch even. SARS was spread from hospital nurses to outside world as far as I know.

cokeforbreakfast · Jul 16, 2011

I would not have the energy.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2011

I work 12-hour night shifts and get off at 6:30 in the morning. When I arrive home, one of the first things I'll do is take a shower, no matter how tired I am. I wouldn't want to bring all of the night's germs to my bed.

Poi Dog · Jul 16, 2011

No matter how dog tired I am, I take a shower. If I don't I will not sleep restfully.

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2011

I feel very itchy when I get home from work . So therefore 90% of the time I do shower.

rn4ever? · Jul 16, 2011

One nurse I know washed her hands thoroughly as soon as she got home. Then she would kiss her 2 little kids. They always got sick, always had Bronchopneumonia. Finally, the doc said to her change clothes and shower before she even greets/kisses/hugs them. After that, kids never got sick again. So yes, I shower 100% after a shift.

TPeters73 · Jul 16, 2011

When I was in school, I would come home and shower until all of the hot water was gone. I felt completely nasty. But now, honestly, no, I don't take a shower as soon as I come home. In fact, as soon as I get off, I go meet up with the hubby and kids & eat dinner, then I come home, watch tv and relax. Some nights I take a shower before I go to bed, some times, I crash and take one the next morning BUT I work on a totally non-gross, non-contagious unit, and other than my first assessment and passing out meds, I have very little physical contact with my patients.

Zombi RN · Jul 16, 2011

Wish I could say I did but I don't. Most nights I'm so exhausted I get home, strip, and fall right into bed.

That said I do not have children to worry about. Might be a different story if I did.