Do you take your work wherever you go?

NurseJKV · Feb 9, 2013

nurses at my work are total germaphobe by cloraxing their shoes before and after every shift and even changing them when they enter their cars! totally normal!

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2013

I never understood why nurses do this. I mean, I understand it however germs are EVERYwhere. The hopsital may be cleaner than the grocery store. Just my two cents.

nurses at my work are total germaphobe by cloraxing their shoes before and after every shift and even changing them when they enter their cars! totally normal!

ak2190 · Feb 10, 2013

Yep. I'm a germaphobe and bleach everything and wipe my shoes and all that. It's ingrained in me.

nurse42long, RN · Feb 10, 2013

Nah, I've been doing this for almost 40 years and "back in the day" we didn't wear gloves to do anything but sterile procedures and lady partsl exams. I've never (so far) taken anything home. I just wash my hands before I leave work and take off my scrubs as soon as I come in the door. Of course, I usually get groceries or something like that before I get home. I'm rarely sick, cause I think I've become immune to everything! My aunt (not a nurse) is so scared of germs that she takes her hand sanitizer and cleans salt shakers at nice restaurants before she uses them. She's always sick. Go figure.

chicagonurse89 · Feb 10, 2013

I'm guilty of this...sometimes, especially if I am too tired!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 10, 2013

Reminds me of the days when I worked in a hospital. I worked the 3-11 shift, and I would come home, leave my Crocs in the garage to be hosed down the next day, and strip off clothing as I walked down the stairs to the laundry room. Then I threw everything in the washer and went into the downstairs bathroom to shower before heading to bed.:)

Going to the store in scrubs after work? Ewww. I've even seen people eating out in a restaurant wearing scrubs......double Ewww!!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2013

No. I'm definitely not a germaphobe. I do practise good hand washing at home, my work shoes are just worn at work, and my house is clean....but that's where it ends. I'm not spending my off hours worrying about germs.

rita359 · Feb 10, 2013

No germaphobe here. When I think of the ways people live, some in this country and almost all in less developed societies, who don't die from the millions of germs they come in contact with I figure our immune systems must take care of most of the germs. There will be some that might get us but we may live for 80 years without that happening. I'm not into worrying for 80 years.

Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN · Feb 11, 2013

No worries. When I was in grad school studying pathology the concept of the disease triangle was put forth. For disease to occur you need a virulent pathogen, the proper environmental conditions, and a susceptible host. If one of these variables is out of sync, no disease occurs. So.... even if you bring the 'bug' home, it is unlikely you will get sick unless you are in a susceptible state (like weakened immune system), etc etc.

For me, this means standard precautions and not to worry over germs.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2013

It's one thing to make sure you're protecting yourself from the goop you're around at work. Handwashing and safe laundry practices are essential.

But there are articles out there (such as the one listed below) that are starting to take notice of the consequences of these cleaning products in the home...

Antibacterial household products: cause for concern.

FlorenceNtheMachine · Feb 11, 2013

Some of my friends and family who are the most "germaphobic" are the sickest. Doesn't seem to help them much. I practice standard precautions and wash my hands before I eat and after the bathroom.