Hand lotion

1. Our infection control nurse has told us that we are not allowed to bring in our own hand lotion for our PERSONAL use at work. We are suppose to use the stuff supplied by the facility. She says it is because of infection control issues. The facility supplied stuff tears up my hands. It is anti-bacterial and eats my hands. I had to see a dermatologist a couple of years ago and he said all this anti-bacterial stuff is not good for my eczema. He says he knows I can't avoid the anti-bacterial soap at work but to try and stay away from it at home as much as possible. Our infection control nurse said she will actually confiscate any lotion brought from the outside. Does anyone else have a policy such as this? If so do employees abide by it? I would think it would be very hard to enforce and especially if the lotion is in your purse. I would like to see our IC nurse go through my purse. Heads would roll and it would not be mine. Any suggestions?

   •  
2. 

   About deespoohbear

   Joined: Aug '01; Posts: 2,276; Likes: 42
   RN

   66 Comments

   Topic Closed

   1 2 3 4 ... Next »
3. 
   Apr 3, '03

   Jeez..haven't heard of that yet. Mind you, we're usually a bit behind the USA so I imagine it will follow shortly!
4. 
   Apr 3, '03

   I have never heard of that! That's crazy!! I always have my bottle of Lubriderm on the counter because my hands are real sensitive to the liquid soap that we use. I would think some kind of note from a dermatologist stating that you are required to use a special lotion would solve that problem. Good luck!
   Jeanne
5. 
   Apr 3, '03

   i think your infection control nurse is getting a little carried away. that just sounds ridiculous to me.
6. 
   Apr 3, '03

   Guess what?! The Kaiser hospital in San Diego has that policy! And they DO confiscate any lotion brought in from home. When my clinical was there during orientation the told us under no circumstances were we to bring our own lotions with us to the hospital "Infection control issue" blah, blah, blah...
   
   I wonder if our cracked, bleeding hands would be considered an IC issue??
7. 
   Apr 3, '03

   What the IC nurse doesn't know won't hurt her. Just keep a small bottle in your pocket and purse. Apply it when no one is looking. Really, the rediculousness of some policies.
   
   BTW, since you are the only one who will be using your own personal lotion, doesn't that pose less risk of infection than everyone sharing the same bottle of facility supplied lotion?
8. 
   Apr 3, '03

   Originally posted by tiger
   i think your infection control nurse is getting a little carried away. that just sounds ridiculous to me.

   Told you she was a control freak...
   
   https://allnurses.com/forums/showthr...=control+freak
   
   
   I am telling you this woman has some control issues....
9. 
   Apr 3, '03

   OHHHHH...her!!!! You have my sympathy...
10. 
    Apr 3, '03

    Our infection control nurse came out with a policy that forbids us from using lipgloss in any patient area. We are closet lipglossers! Nail polish is a no-no also.
    
    I hope she doesn't belong to allnurses because hand cream will be next! We'll be doing all our creaming and glossing in the bathroom! Keep it quiet will you?
11. 
    Apr 3, '03

    "Our infection control nurse said she will actually confiscate any lotion brought from the outside."
    
    Illegal. What's she going to do--wrestle you for it? What is your union doing about this?
    
    Remember:
12. 
    Apr 3, '03

    Yes, we have that policy, and no, we dont abide by it. The hospital issue stuff chaps my hands more than the alcohol wash we use does. Our IC nurse says that it degrades the latex in our gloves. I say great, i just wont wear gloves... makes sense right?
    
    
    BrandyBSN
13. 
    Apr 3, '03

    I'd wap her over the head with it if she tried to take it from me. Then, if she came running after me, I would squirt it on the floor so she fell on her azz. That'd make people laugh....
    
    Seriously, I bring my own. Ours at work is just crap.
14. 
    Apr 3, '03

    Our hospital lotion....that we give to patients....is just worthless!! It's just plain embarrassing to give a bottle of this stuff out. We don't have an 'anti-lotion' policy where I work....at least not that I know of........our infection control nurse doesn't work nights.
    
    For anyone looking for a great lotion, I've been using Avoplex by O.P.I. (same company that makes those nail polishes). I've even gone to the beauty supply to get others for nurses and aides at work...they were hooked after trying mine.
    
    I can't understand why your I.C. Nurse thinks drying and cracking your main "tools of the trade" with this hospital issue stuff is controlling the spread of infection. Have you asked her for the nosocomial infection stats for your facility for before -and- after this policy went into place?? She should have these stats available. Our I.C. Nurse keeps infection stats for all units on either a monthly or quarterly basis....I can't remember which. If there has been no apparant decrease, then this policy should seriously be questioned.
    
    Anne

    Last edit by KC CHICK on Apr 3, '03

Must Read Topics