i forgot to wear my gloves ... Patient had Hep B

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i was helping my classmate shave a patient -- i was holding a bin of water for her -- and i forgot to wear my gloves. at one point, i put my uncovered hands in the water to rinse off a washcloth for my classmate. my clinical instructor walked in and said "you should really be wearing your gloves if you put your hands in that water."

this patient has had HepB in the past, but that's not why he's in the hospital now (he's there for paralysis due to a neurological disease). there are no warnings about taking extra contact precautions with this patient.

could i have caught HepB from this patient?

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Well you should have already had your hepB vaccinations given before being let onto a clinical rotation. If you're worried go to your occupation health department and get your levels checked. As your patient is not hepB positive at the moment then you are probably ok. Just use this scenario as lesson to wear gloves in the future, get it checked, stop worrying and move on.

Good luck

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+1 redtshirt

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+1 redtshirt

Is that a good thing or a bad???:chuckle

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Good thing my friend. Good thing.:w00t: Sorry force of habit from when I had time to actually use my XBOX.

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Ah like a high 5! Brain is asleep!

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---double post

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Exactly like a high five. Everyone's brain is entitled to a nap at some point.

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