Do you shower right after your shift?

Nurses General Nursing

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When I was in nursing school I showered as soon as I got home. Now as a nurse I need to just sit down when I get home from work and watch a little TV and have a snack before I shower. I do take off my scrubs as soon as I get home. Some other nurses I know who have been working longer take off their scrubs and go straight to bed without showering and I'm afraid it could one day be me. Just wanted to know peoples opinion on this and if this is sanitary or even dangerous?

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

When I was working the unit, up until last year, I would come in to the house through the laundry room and take off my scrubs and shoes. Scrubs in separate hamper, shoes lysoled off until wet. Then, do not pass go, do not stop, right into the shower to wash body and hair, then sit down for TV and to unwinde. It was a ritual. I worked 7p-7a..so I went to bed around 9a or so.

I wouldn't have been able so sleep without shower.

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Specializes in Pediatric Burn Care.

I am currently not working, but when I did work in the hospital, I would go directly to the shower when I got home. That's just me though.

During our hospital orientation, our infection control nurse had us go around the hospital and swab different surfaces in order to see all the different things we encounter at work... BUT before we did anything, as soon as we arrived that day, all of us placed our hands on our very own dish to grow the bacteria we already had encountered, before coming to work. So, of course, one of us swabbed one of the nurse's hands after she had been working with patients all day ... Guess whose hands had WAY more bacteria?!? :clown:

OURS! by far... :eek:

now, as for scrubs and shoes and such ... probably have all kinds of stuff - I just don't remember anything else because the hand results were the most amazing.

Just thought that was interesting and kinda related to this topic :)

I will still be leaving my shoes in the truck and going directly to the shower when I get home from work. And leaving anything I take into work with me in the truck or at the door, and all those things I do because I am a germaphobe. :uhoh3:

Ps. this was a really interesting thread :yeah:

:idea: related topic: how many nurses go to a restraurant or grocery store right after work??

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Im in nursing school and I shower after Ive had a cuppa tea. If i didnt i wouldnt be able to sleep very well. A nice hot shower is relaxing. Then when I get up I shower and wash my hair because it helps wake me up and feel fresh and ready for the day ahead. My skin and hair gets greasy and oily....must be an adolescent thing. I dont really worry about germs though, I shower often because it makes me feel better! :) :)

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Specializes in OR, public health, dialysis, geriatrics.

Absolutely. Even with scrubbing my hands multiple times per day and wear a hat, mask, gown, and gloves in the OR, I take a shower. I have to wash the hospital off asap.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

It depends on what I was doing at work and what patients I had. If in isolation yes yes yes! If in charge and not much patient care, nope. If just have gainers and growers..depends on if the kid puked on me lol I do take my shoes off in the garage and the scrubs get put in the basket in the laundry room, my DH does the same.

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I always shower as soon as I get home from work no matter how tired I am.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

No I'm too tired. I just want to eat and sleep when I come home.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Quote
I will still be leaving my shoes in the truck and going directly to the shower when I get home from work. And leaving anything I take into work with me in the truck or at the door and all those things I do because I am a germaphobe. :uhoh3:

Now here is another question. If you drive home in your scrubs sitting on the seat of your truck with your shoes on the foot peddles, what do you do when you use your truck for everyday driving? The germs may still be there and now you are sitting on them.

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Specializes in ER.

I prefer to shower but I'm dog tired post shift, and I don't want to go to bed with wet hair. I'm convinced it will help me prevent being stone deaf when I'm old, but so far it's not working well. If I've come back from my last shift of the set I shower, put on comfy jamas and catch up on my favorite websites for awhile. Getting to bed after nightshift is like a little bit of heaven (especially with fresh flannel sheets, a heated bed and a cat purring on my head.)

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Specializes in Pediatric Burn Care.

tvccrn,

LOL! I know! :eek: I have been known to lysol EVERYTHING... especially my shoes. :idea: One solution could be to put a towel over the seat and then wash the towel and also, to take my shoes off before getting into my vehicle, maybe bring a change of shoes ...

But I don't think my problem goes that far ;) I was able to function without caring about the truck seat and peddles :)

What do you do?

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This sounds soooo OCD, but before I even leave work I wash my hands really well. Then, as soon as I get home I strip down at the door and wash my scrubs (always separate from my street clothes). I wipe my shoes off and place those by the door and then wash my hands.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Yes, I do. I won't even let my kids hug me after I get out of the car. The shower is relaxing and it gives me time to unwind. Well, as much as I can with little kids banging on the shower door or smashing their faces against it.

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