Have you ever convinced yourself...?

[RN403]

As a student nurse I once had a MRSA + patient, of course, they were on contact precautions. This was the first patient that I ever had that was on such precautions as I was in my very first clinical rotation. I was sure to maintain strict adherence to the recommended precautions for my safety and everyone else's safety.

After completing the clinical day, I returned home, showered, and was ready to start my clinical paperwork. I looked down at my hand and noticed a tiny red bump that I did not notice before. Immediately, I started to convince myself that I had contracted MRSA.

So, being a panicked new student, not knowing too much about this infection, I ran over to the all-knowing internet. The internet told me that "MRSA may appear as a small red bump, pimple, or boil." Upon further investigation I found a site that told me MRSA can start on the hand.

I spent the next 20 minutes washing and re-washing my hands. After I felt I somehow washed this potential MRSA away, I put a Band-Aid over my hand, as I was worried that it would spread.

In the end, of course, I did not contract MRSA. But, I had myself convinced for a while. I have been known to be a bit of a drama-queen.

Have you ever convinced yourself that you contracted something from a patient? Were you right or wrong?

[kiszi, RN]

I used to freak out a bit after working with C Diff patients until I realized how many people are already colonized with it but don't actually contract it until their GI flora is wiped out by antibiotics.

[SubSippi]

In my first semester of clinicals, I accidentally touched my mouth with a gloved hand after I touched a patient on contact precautions. I got so freaked out that I ran into the supply closet and put some alcohol foam IN MY MOUTH, then ran into the bathroom to spit it out.

I then got worried that someone would smell alcohol on my breath and not believe my story. So I went into the break room, and looked through drawers until I found some packs of mustard and pickle relish, which I then squeezed into my mouth and swished around until I couldn't stand it anymore. For the rest of the day, I didn't speak unless and didn't have a choice, and even then would barely part my lips.

I maintain that this behavior was a product of extreme stress and lack of sleep, and not sheer stupidity.

[RN403, BSN, RN]

In my first semester of clinicals, I accidentally touched my mouth with a gloved hand after I touched a patient on contact precautions. I got so freaked out that I ran into the supply closet and put some alcohol foam IN MY MOUTH, then ran into the bathroom to spit it out.

I then got worried that someone would smell alcohol on my breath and not believe my story. So I went into the break room, and looked through drawers until I found some packs of mustard and pickle relish, which I then squeezed into my mouth and swished around until I couldn't stand it anymore. For the rest of the day, I didn't speak unless and didn't have a choice, and even then would barely part my lips.

I maintain that this behavior was a product of extreme stress and lack of sleep, and not sheer stupidity.

wow, what a story! Thanks for sharing!

[Carpediem1012, BSN, RN]

Lol!!! That's awesome. Hee hee!

[amoLucia]

As a student, I thought I'd caught Hep from my isolation pt. My PMP was very understanding - ordered some bloodwork for me. Was negative.

His diagnosis for me - "new student nurse-itis".

Over my MANY years, I can only attribute 1 episode of scabies that I picked up from a resident (who was misdiagnosed in my NH - 2 CNAs and myself were the 'lucky" ones). They then changed their tune and the whole staff and pt census was treated with ivermectin.

Just FYI - recently, I was cultured for PAT and dx'd with colonized nasal MRSA. Occupational hazard.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I feared I had Hepatitis C from a body fluid splash from a very ill pt with high Hepatitis C levels. It took me over a year to get the courage to ask my Dr to test me and thankfully I was ok. That was a relief!

[chiandre]

In nursing school, after psychology class, I started psychoanalyzing my classmates, professors, co-workers, family and friends. I thought I was the only one with psychopaths and bipolar classmates until my best friend told me that she thought I had schizophrenia

[ICURN3020]

In nursing school, after psychology class, I started psychoanalyzing my classmates, professors, co-workers, family and friends. I thought I was the only one with psychopaths and bipolar classmates until my best friend told me that she thought I had schizophrenia

I found myself trying to "figure out" everyone around me too after studying psychology. I found it a fascinating subject.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

I had a TB patient and I was almost convinced that my allergies a week later was early TB. I wanted to get a new TST. It doesn't even start showing symptoms til later. I think a positive TST shows up at least a month later.

[annie.rn]

This was a post in error and I can't figure out how to delete it :-(

[annie.rn]

The above post and this one before I edited it were both "pocket posts". I'm so sorry.

I haven't convinced myself of any illnesses since becoming a nurse but, oh boy, yes I sure did when I was younger. I'm dating myself but it reminds me of the episode of "The Brady Bunch" when one of the girls gets her hands on a Merck Manual and convinces herself she has a rare disease and is going to die. By the end if the 30 mins. all is resolved when she realizes that two pages were stuck together therefore giving whatever benign illness she was looking up a very nefarious prognosis.

[Delicate Flower]

I had an occupational exposure to a MRSA (in sputum) positive patient when the respiratory therapist opened up the circuit and a blast of wet air blew into my face.

Me: Ahhh! Eww!

Him: I thought I had my thumb over the hole.

Me: Nope, you didn't

Him: Sorry. Don't worry. I've done much worse to myself.

Me: Gee, thanks.

I called in the exposure to the hotline, then went about my business. About a week later, I developed a sore throat. I thought it was the start of a cold, but I never got any other symptoms. No runny nose, no cough, no misery. Just a really sore throat. Saw primary care doctor, swabbed for strep (negative), told it was a virus and wait it out.

The sore throat persisted for a week. So I googled that sucker and turns out, MRSA is a common cause of severe sore throat! Back to primary care MD for a MRSA swab. Then to ENT specialist because by then, I was convinced it was either MRSA or throat cancer.

Thankfully, it was neither. I had to endure a tortuous pharyngeal scope by the ENT, which was very painful but at least I found out I didn't have throat cancer. ENT doc prescribed antibiotics. I got better.

A few days later, the MRSA results came back: negative!