Does this concern anyone else?

[handyrn]

Ok, here is the situation: A pregnant CNA is giving a bath to a resident with an open wound with documented MRSA in the wound. She is wearing gloves to protect herself and unborn baby. DON sees this and is very upset stating that this is humiliating to the patient and CNA should take her gloves off immediately! After the bath is done, CNA approaches DON to discuss the issue. DON tells CNA that she is more likely to get MRSA from a shopping cart than from open wound. DON states that she could "stick her finger in the open wound with MRSA and then stick that finger in her eye and not get MRSA." So CNA is never to humiliate a patient by wearing gloves just because patient has MRSA. (Also, in our facility, we are not allowed to have carts with protective equipment for patients with MRSA/VRE.) Am I off my rocker or does this disturb anyone else?

[mamason]

Is she nuts? I deal with MRSA and VRE a lot where I work. Gowns and gloves are a must. If it's respiratory, then mask included. What this DON said needs to be documented. Not only is she putting staff at risk but the other pt's as well. Nursing 101, gloves and proper handwashing help to lessen the spread of disease from one pt to another. Humiliate the pt? WHat? How about a lawsuit for contraction of MRSA while in your care? (Not you personally)

ANd I love the part where she stated, "You could stick you finger in the wound and then into your own eye." "OK....You first!" "Show me how it's done!"

Lord have mercy! I can't believe it!

I would have to report this. Sorry, but, it is clearly in violation of OSHA standards.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

The CNA should contact the infection control nurse, Quality, Risk managment or all of the above. This could be an OSHA issue as well.

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

Yep. Disturbs me, too!

DON apparently has no knowledge of MRSA or infection control.

[wearingmanyhats, RN]

ACKKKKKK!!!!!!

I cannot believe that a DON would even think that in today's world. I also worked long before universal precautions.... hmmmmm Universal Precautions??? Doesn't that mean that we treat everyone as potentially infected?

I concur.... make the call or calls.... for your sake and everyone in the facility.

F

[onyx77]

WOW!!! That makes me sick:barf02:

I'm a little OCD when it come to that kinda stuff!

This is something that should be reported!

YUCK! YUCK! YUCK!

[bethin]

Sounds like an OSHA report needs to be filed, 'cause this wacky DON ain't gonna learn any other way.......unless it comes from someone more official than her, she's not going to listen.

I was thinking JCAHO, if that facility is accredited by them.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Is this in long term care? The guidelines are very different in LTC but a little common sense has to be used.The DOH considers gloving inappropriately a big red flag indicating that the staff is not being educated regarding infection control They don't want to see anyone wearing gloves while serving a meal or walking through the halls while wearing gloves,or gloving to feed a healthy resident (they consider that a violation of the residents rights)

In the case of the OP theoretically you can argue that if the dressing is intact then gloves/gown would not be appropriate during a bed bath.BUT you don't know if the resident pulled a dressing off in the shifts prior so for everyone's protection you have to assume that the bed linens may be contaminated. In our facility we would supply a cart stocked with all available PPE.

MRSA is not as easily spread as the news media would have us believe-it looks for a suitable victim,someone already immuno-compromised.THis DON has no way of knowing which,if any of the employees may be more at risk.However-I don't think the CDC would recommend putting your finger in the wound and then in your eyeball...The only way for the OP to fix this problem without calling unwanted attention to herself and risking retailiation is to make an anonymous call to the DOH-They will investigate and if they see a problem they will fix it to protect the resident and employees...

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

:eek: Who the H-E- double hockey sticks made that woman DON??? I had to do a research paper for a nursing class on MRSA and VRSA ...She is soooooooooooo wrong! I would be extremely worried working under this woman.....gloves should be warn with an open wound, MRSA or NOT!!! I would report the DON!!

[fultzymom]

Well the whole thing bothers me because I thought you always wear gloves when doing patient care.......MRSA or not. I remember doing patient baths and wearing gloves no matter what. Sounds like she needs some re-education badly.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I wonder if this is really a DON (Nurse) or a NH administrator (a non-Nurse)? I agree you don't walk down the halls or even exit the room with gloves on, but why the heck should the tech put herself and the patient at unnecessary risk by not wearing gloves? And MRSA IS all around; no doubt on that take.

[Olli]

Ok, here is the situation: A pregnant CNA is giving a bath to a resident with an open wound with documented MRSA in the wound. She is wearing gloves to protect herself and unborn baby. DON sees this and is very upset stating that this is humiliating to the patient and CNA should take her gloves off immediately! After the bath is done, CNA approaches DON to discuss the issue. DON tells CNA that she is more likely to get MRSA from a shopping cart than from open wound. DON states that she could "stick her finger in the open wound with MRSA and then stick that finger in her eye and not get MRSA." So CNA is never to humiliate a patient by wearing gloves just because patient has MRSA. (Also, in our facility, we are not allowed to have carts with protective equipment for patients with MRSA/VRE.) Am I off my rocker or does this disturb anyone else?

are you serious? i would tell the DON to stick her/his finger in the MRSA wound and then stick it in her *** jk :chuckle She is insane... I am wearing gloves every time before I touch anyone, period. How many times the patient is on standard isolation one day and then you come next day and see it changed to a contact isolation after lab results come back positive? How can it be humiliating to a patient that you are protecting both the patient and yourself? I am sorry but your DON is uneducated and whatever she says sounds stupid. She is probably caring MRSA for a long time now...

[squeakykitty]

Yep. Disturbs me, too!

DON apparently has no knowledge of MRSA or infection control.

Or maybe she doesn't care. I wonder---is she is trying to save money on gloves? I'd report this DON. I can't believe she said that a person could stick a MRSA contaminated finger in their eye.