I work in a small 80 bed community hospital. I have had a latex allergy for ~ 2 years. Severe enough that my entire body was one huge hive and it took 90mg of prednisone to cure and I took that dose for 6 months*. My hospital will put ONE box at the nurses station for me to use. It is against infection control for me to carry extra gloves in my pockets which I agree. However, I'm an aide. I'm everywhere. As most of you know, you never know when you will come into contact with fluids. Simply pulling up a pt in bed you can touch a wet allegra. It is also highly inconvient for me to be going to the nurses station everytime I need a pair of gloves. If I answer a call light and that pt needs the BSC NOW am I supposed to say "sorry, I have to walk 100 feet to get a pair of gloves"?
But it's no longer just me with a latex allergy. Several of my coworkers have developed one, not yet severe as mine. I know that the more we are exposed to it that the greater are chances are of having severe reactions. I spoke with them today and told them that I would look into the matter.
I need ideas. I am planning on going to management with a proposal. Not only will it benefit employees but it will also benefit patients. Does anyone know how much of an increase it is to supply latex free gloves? I've been doing internet research but I want reliable resources. I'm an aide so I don't have access to the prestigious journals that nurses do. I would love to hear from those who are in infection control and management.
The problem that I'm forseeing is that our census has been low and there have been budget concerns. How do I go about convincing management that this is a must? Please don't yell, but I have been wearing regular gloves. I know that this is dangerous but I'm not about to tell a pt to wait while I get latex free gloves. I have taken photos of my hands as a possible exhibit (already thinking like a lawyer, heh?). I also thought it was the law that an employer had to make sure that their employees were safe. But how far does this safety law go?
Sorry so long but any help would be greatly appreciated.
*Even though I went to the ER immediately after experiencing the first hive which came after my yearly TB test, it was determined not to be workman's comp and I had to pay out ~$700 for treatment. And I was out of work because the hives were in my ears, on my face, etc and I took the term awful looking to a new level. :angryfire
the problem with this approach is you could find yourself unemployed, depending on the state. See the recent post ref light duty for nurses and loss of jobs. All though it may work and most facilities I have worked have plans in place for staff that develop latex allergies. Sounds to me this place is putting their
head in the sand and hoping you will go away. Your best bet may be to talk to an attorney.
rj
If I'm going to him for info, I hardly think they're going to fire me for that. And I'm not paying an attorney for what should be common sense. Most hosptials in the area are completely latex free and they are our competition.
I know from working at one and family recently being admitted to the others that the hospitals near my home are not latex-free, and so far only one I've worked as a traveler was latex-free.
I hope hospitals are not planning on going latex free!
I use latex without any problems, as do most people. I hate those vinyl and neoprene (?) gloves. I find it impossible to start an IV wearing those.
I hope facilities continue to offer both latex, and latex alternatives.
By limiting me to scheduling you to x hrs for y days with z days off. Sorry the hospital doesn't work that way. No I don't do the scheduling and am not management so I don't even know if its legal or not. Just saying they may try it.
I hope hospitals are not planning on going latex free!
I use latex without any problems, as do most people. I hate those vinyl and neoprene (?) gloves. I find it impossible to start an IV wearing those.
I hope facilities continue to offer both latex, and latex alternatives.
There are hospitals that have. And there are more that are every day. With mandates to cause pts no harm, and causing a patient an allergic reaction we might not know about pretty much forces the issue. Pretty much why the ENA has pushed their position of latex free ER's. We never know who is coming in in arrest with a latex allergy.
By limiting me to scheduling you to x hrs for y days with z days off. Sorry the hospital doesn't work that way. No I don't do the scheduling and am not management so I don't even know if its legal or not. Just saying they may try it.
Rj
It's a medical condition that can be controlled by limiting exposure. That doesn't equate to losing one's job.
By limiting me to scheduling you to x hrs for y days with z days off. Sorry the hospital doesn't work that way. No I don't do the scheduling and am not management so I don't even know if its legal or not. Just saying they may try it.
Rj
Ok, I understand. I thought you were saying I could possible be fired for providing research to management about the dangers and speaking to experts about it.
I could possibly see the problem that was described. However, could it be looked at as a disability?
I hope hospitals are not planning on going latex free!
I use latex without any problems, as do most people. I hate those vinyl and neoprene (?) gloves. I find it impossible to start an IV wearing those.
I hope facilities continue to offer both latex, and latex alternatives.
Sorry, but I worry about this. I am allergic, and I can see that it is getting worse as time goes on. As my allergist explained, just the environment contains the latex regardless if I actually use the gloves or not.
I had to get used to using non-latex; now I don't even notice the difference.
Except...
In one of the hospitals I worked recently, I searched high and low for non-latex gloves, and was quite put out because I only saw latex being used.
So I thought.
I told the manager of my problem, and she said "We're latex-free"--- and I didn't believe her. I went to inspect the boxes and sure enough they were non latex.
I don't remember the brand name, but they were identical to latex gloves. I loved 'em.
I am just shocked that there are still hospitals who haven't gone to latex-free gloves.
Out of the billions and billions of dollars that facilities spend to advocate pt safety, this has to be the simplest, most economical move that one could make. Why would a facility take any chances knowing that in a worst case scenario, this could be a deadly mistake, that could've been prevented by something as simple as a change in gloves.
Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.
I can't believe your facility is not onlynotlatex free, but doesn't offer more than one measley box of gloves, we;ve been latex/balloon free for a few years now, sure, the gloves take some getting use to, but like anything else, you adjust. It's pretty nice not having to freak out w/the latex sensitive/allergic pt and staff!! Can't believe everyone hasn't made the switch, they would have to pay out a lot more in a liability suit than some freakin' gloves
There's more to it than simply switching supplies. To do it right, the hospital has to do a thorough decontamination (for lack of a better word). Latex permeates the environment; in can get into dust and collect on surfaces, duct work, carpets... even places you might not suspect:
The data were linked to 600 (70%) participants. Prevalences of latex-related complaints were: 3% latex allergy; 20% skin rash; 6% red, itchy, swollen hands or "water blisters"; and l0% eye/nasal symptoms. Despite a year-long no latex policy, powdered latex gloves and powder-free latex gloves were used by 6% and 17% of participants. Housekeeping had a high level of latex glove use. Levels of latex allergen were: air, below level of detection (LOD); floor dust, 0.05 to 108 ng/m2 (0.11 to 87 ng/mg); chair dust, 0.35 to 274 ng/chair (0.26 to 155 ng/mg).
After controlling for personal, home and measured contaminants in dust, latex allergen in chair dust was positively associated (OR = 1.2, P http://www.cdc.gov/
What I'd like to know is if there have been any successful suits or WC claims regarding occupational latex exposure and allergic reactions. My take on it is until such time, some hospitals are willing to gamble rather than spend the money necessary to do it correctly.
BTW:
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts investigations and studies of possible health hazards in the workplace. These investigations are conducted under the authority of Section 20(a)(6) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 USC 669(a)(6)) which authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, following a written request from any employer or authorized representative of employees, to determine whether any substance normally found in the place of employment has potentially toxic effects in such concentrations as used or found.
EmmaG, RN
2,999 Posts
How so?