Be careful where you sit!

1. One can never be too careful. We recently admitted a client with a SPMI diagnosis and are seeing him for medication delivery and administration. He also has diagnosis of Hepatitis C. He does not receive any injections or had any sharps issues. The nurse went for her visit. We usually sit and discuss their symptoms and medication side effects etc. Well, the nurse sat on a chair that had a chair tack sticking out of it and punctured her buttock. When she jumped up he commented that he had sat on that same chair earlier and bled.
   
   It isn't just needles. Be careful of where you sit!

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2. 

   About Sharlyn

   Joined: Mar '04; Posts: 4

   7 Comments

   Topic Closed
3. 
   Mar 29, '04

   thanks for the advice. i've done a couple private duty cases and never really considered this possibility.
4. 
   Mar 30, '04

   An attack chair?? I am sure that smarted. I know I have sat in many a chair soaked with urine which of course was gross.
   
   renerian
5. 
   May 14, '08

   Quote from renerian

   An attack chair?? I am sure that smarted. I know I have sat in many a chair soaked with urine which of course was gross.
   
   renerian

   Renerian so have I!! infact, when I saw the title to this thread that's exactly what I thought of. Phewf, it makes for a really long day when you feel like you reek of pee. reminds me, I need to put an extra uniform in my car.
   
   ...that's if I can fit anything else in it
6. 
   May 23, '08

   In houses where we are aware of urine in chairs...we wear 2 aprons...one backwards to cover our butt! I learned that from a veteran!
   Patti
7. 
   May 23, '08

   I've been in some homes that were so dirty, I've put down plastic bags as barriers where I sat. You can't be too careful. It's a very good idea to have an extra uniform in the car for those unexpected surprises.
8. 
   Jul 15, '08

   you never know about the urine... even if the client is immoble, watch out! If they have a pet (and the pet isn't trained) you may sit in pet urine. Happened to me and a few other aides at my agency. Never assume.
   
   And try not to offend anyone when you go into a dirty house. If I'm wearing scrubs and am just there to do companion services, I don't worry about sitting ontop of anything because I know I will change my clothes when I go home. I have had clients tell me that they don't like certian people to come to them because the aide has to sit on a towel and it made the client feel disrespected.
9. 
   Jul 16, '08

   I always know when I DID sit in something gross/weird/disgusting/different because my dog follows me around, nose glued to my pants from the moment I walk in the door until I change clothes!
   
   Congrats on your new license liveyourlife747!

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