Hoping I don't get the flu

LadyJaye · Oct 24, 2009

Oh dear! I do hope you don't get the flu... but congratulations on your pregnancy! I do feel for you- being pregnant and having the flu would be no fun for you or your baby. What you said about being able to pick it up anywhere is true though, but it can be frustrating when you are taking as many precautions as you can and it seems like your efforts are futile due to another person's mistake. But mistakes do happen, just know that you do your best, and that is all that you can do. Just wait until your baby finds some piece of yucky garbage on the ground as a present for you, and promptly puts his or her hands in the mouth after delivering the gift to you... I lose my mind every time (on the inside)! :eek: :rollGood luck and keep us posted- maybe pregnancy has given you immunity of steel!

tewdles, RN · Oct 24, 2009

I had influenza while I was in my first trimester, years ago. It is no fun for sure. I can understand that you are concerned because of the recent reports of the H1N1 being particularly tough on pregnant women. There is not much you can do at this point except take care of yourself. The odds are in your favor, so just take care, continue with your prenatal care, and go relabel the bins that the swabs are kept in!!

thinkertdm · Oct 24, 2009

I feel bad for you, but it was your decision to not take precautions. You can blame the other person, but it was ultimately up to you.

WalkieTalkie, RN · Oct 24, 2009

Considering that up to 60% of nasal swabs are false negative, you should wear the proper PPE on all suspicious patients, at least until the symptoms subside, or a PCR test is done...

Penguin67 · Oct 24, 2009

I work peds, and wear masks frequently, even when not called for, especially when a diagnosis hasn't yet been made. I seem to be a magnet to pick bugs and germs up, so I'm usually very careful. Even the ID doctors told me one day "You don't have to wear a mask in here, just a gown." And I told them what I just wrote above, and would wear a mask until we knew what this child had. Better safe than sorry.

But, you can't always predict that even when you are exposed that you will get the germ 100% of the time. An exposure doens't always equate to an qactive illness.

nurse_mo1986 · Oct 24, 2009

our facility is requiring the use of masks for all pts under the age of 65 at this time, regardless of flu like s/s or not.

oramar · Oct 24, 2009

Got a new admit direct from MD office yesterday around 2pm with 5 hours left in the shift. Admitting dx of pna. All labs look perfect, just experiencing decreased sats (91% on R/A, not too bad really considering her history of COPD) and had audible wheezings, with a high temp x1 day. Temp from 102.9 to 98.5 with one dose tylenol (no, she took no such measures at home).
Since I am 35 weeks pregnant, I take extra precautions any time a patient presents with flu-look symptoms. I beg MD's for flu-swaps, and gown up with mask when in room until I get a neg. But she really didn't look like the flu, and they did a swap in the office that was negative.
Got a call about 9 last night from the nurse that I gave report to. She just wanted to let me know the lab that does the flu-swaps for the office had called to inform her the office nurse used the wrong type of swap, and a new swap needed to be collected. HOW!?!! How does it take almost 12 hours to discover this!
Anyway, positive for Type A influenza. So, because another nurse was careless, I spent half a day caring for a patient with the flu without taking proper precautions. I was coughed on, despite repeatedly telling this grown woman to cover her mouth. Yes, I realize I can go to the supermarket and come in contact with the same virus, but this could have easily been prevented. I'm just a little bit ******.

I have to tell you the rapid flu test are highly inaccurate even when done properly. Don't risk you life and that of your child on a flu test that isn't accurate. We are in a epidemic situation, everyone coughing should be assumed to have it.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2009

Even if the flu swab was negative, the pt. was febrile and coughing, and diagnosed with pneumonia, therefore, should have been on droplet precautions.

I really hope you don't get sick, but you have learned a valuable lesson to be more careful next time!

*ac* · Oct 24, 2009

We have to stop trusting any and all reports to the contrary and use appropriate precautions with ALL upper resp/f/c pts. We are moving patients so quickly, that by the time providers get their act together and really look at the labs (source, quality, results) and the big picture of s/s, it can OFTEN result in a change in isolation recommendations. As nurses, we need to stop waiting for all this, and use our critical thinking and common sense, and make the decisions for ourselves as to precautionary measures and cohorting where possible.

And by the way, the appropriate precautions for flu or flu-like sx are N95 or better respirator, face shield, gown and gloves. Period. We should not settle for less, expecially if pg.