Help with Precaution Questions.......

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Hi everyone, I need help with some of the precautions that you need to follow in the hospitals as nurses. My nursing instructor has went over some of the precautions that we need to use, but she confused me further. I tried reading the fundamentals book, etc but still a bit confused..... If I can get some help, I would really appreciate it!!!!!!!

1. For those with respiratory infections such as influenza, do you need to always wear a mask or only if you go 3 feet near the patient? 2. And for VRE (Vanconycin resistant enterococcus), special organism do you need a mask? 3. Finally, I know you need a N95 mask for airborne (AFB), but what about airborne in general for those with measles, varicella do you need one? because on my notes it says that for those with TB you need a mask at all times, but not for those with measles and varicella. How come it is also airborne???? Thanks alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Home care.

I suggest erring on the side of caution.

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I suggest erring on the side of caution.

I'm a new nursing student, hope you understand!

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We learned flu as a droplet precaution, not airborne.

For all airborne, use the N95 mask. Chicken pox, TB, measles. Use the N95.

If you're going into a room where the person is on precaution and you're just dropping off a glass of water... Wear the full precaution gear for whatever isolation they are on. Chances are, you won't only be there to drop off the glass of water. They'll likely need something else while you're in there.

VRE is contact, as is MRSA. The only time that MRSA is not contact is if it is in the respiratory tract, and then they are droplet. Contact precautions don't need masks.

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so do you need it for respiratory?:scrying:

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Mask for respiratory, yeppers.

Airborne (respiratory): N95 mask minimum. I use gown and gloves as well, though...

Droplet: hair cover, mask with eye shield, gloves, booties, gown.

Contact: gloves. Gown if doing personal care.

Reverse: Same as droplet, but you can use a normal mask without a shield.

Does that help? :typing

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Please, please learn these well. It is IMPERATIVE you know these precautions like you know the back of your hand....

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