Hepatitis C question!

[FutureNP21]

I was wondering if a patient had Hep C would it be listed in his chart?? I'm a nursing student btw. Would the nurses state that in morning handoffs? How about other diseases?

[cleback]

1) yes if they are diagnosed... but a high percentage of people are unaware that they have hep c

2) likely not. It's mostly a chronic disease and likely not why they're hospitalized. Standard precautions also prevent it's transmission.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

We usually mention HepC and HIV because sometimes family does not know and when I am explaining meds, I sometimes have to get creative.

It def should be in the H&P

[Crush]

Yes, it would be in the chart. Yes, at our facility we mention if person has Hep C and HIV in report (may also depend on the floor and what is going on with the patient ). We don't openly talk about it with the patient though ( they may not know yet ) and as mentioned above in explaining the meds ( if family is in the room ) we sometimes may need to be discrete with care such as med administration, etc.

Always use standard precautions though on all pts and good hand hygiene.

[cleback]

We usually mention HepC and HIV because sometimes family does not know and when I am explaining meds, I sometimes have to get creative.

It def should be in the H&P

Just curious... what meds are you giving long term for hep c? The only ones I know are given short term, like antibiotics, so I rarely if ever have to explain any meds in such a way.

[Crush]

I work acute care so only see antivirals used on occasion.

[brownbook]

I'm so curious why you are asking.

A patient may be admitted with a broken leg, for example, and have any well controlled chronic hepatitis or HIV viral infection. It may not be routinely mentioned in report, nor does it need to be.

Many people have hepatitis and have no symptoms, are not even aware they have it.

All patients are on standard precautions. That's why you must notify a teacher or charge nurse of any body fluid exposure.