One of our patients was recently diagnosed with VRE. There is a sign on the door that says Contact Precautions, you must wear a gown and gloves upon entering, blah, blah, blah. Well, the CNA went in to the patient's room to provide care and noticed there were no gowns. So, the nurse manager was told because she's been keeping the gowns locked up where no one has access to them. Her response back was "do you think you'll get urine on yourself? Other than that, you don't need it".
I know that if someone is diagnosed with something that requires PPE, it has to be made available to the employees. Obviously, they are trying extremely hard to penny-pinch. But, at the expense of the employees? It's just horrible!
Once OSHA is notified, they have to also notify the facility to give them a chance to correct the problem. I'm concerned that they will trick OSHA into thinking the problem has been corrected. I'm not sure what kind of "proof" the facility will be required to submit.
VRE would not be spread from coughing! It is in the intestines and you are colonized and can spread to bladder and possibly an open wound that would be contaminated.
I never heard of a NM withholding gowns? This can't be a hospital! It must be a nursing home and the NM must be trying to keep her budget low. I've read NM and other management raise and bonus are determined by keeping under budget. This is simply ridiculous and unsafe and I would think it would be a violation of OSHA and JACHO. Is she for real or what!
I just wanted to point out that it is your duty as a pt advocate to bring this up and have it corrected, how horrible would you feel if the VRE made it to another pt? We all know that we care for sickly pts with open wounds, just coming off antibiotics (ripe for superinfection), and suppressed/strained immune systems. If you are not comfortable trying to teach your NM the massive risk she is taking, and the financial implications of just one nosocomial infection, I would start climbing the chain of command until the problem is resolved. The powers that be would rather not have a lawsuit or have to provide free care over something as easily preventable as a breakdown in PPE access.
Wow, that's so wrong. Speak with your manager to remind her of the policies that are in place to keep employees safe, then speak with her boss if needed. If neither of them do anything, you should contact your Infection Control department (if you have one) and/or OSHA to file a complaint. Good luck!!
Report her to the infection control dept. I had a manager who tried to pull this stunt, when some one complained to infection control, she changed her tune pretty quick. If it doesn't work, report her to OSHA, Joint Commision confidentially, and the dept of health. What she is doing is against the law.
netglow, ASN, RN
4,412 Posts
Ah, just call OSHA and report. That way they might get a little surprise visit.
I like surprises