How can you protect yourself?

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2004

Can you wear masks, gowns, face coverings, etc. in with a patient that may have projectile fluids? I don't want to be rude or make them feel uncomfortable, but I REALLY don't want anything blowing in my face.
Also, can anyone tell me if Oil of Wintergreen put under your nose helps with horrible smells? MY A&P instructor told us she used it during her clinicals long time ago, didn't know if it still worked. Thanks.

Of course you can and you should wear appropriate PPE. That's what it's there for. Use it at your discretion. Projectile fluids would send me hunting for everything I can find.

Wintergreen, Vicks Vaporub can help.

nurseunderwater · Jun 13, 2004

Your concern for your pts feelings shows that you are compassionate. YET, when it comes to potential for exposure to body fluids....you come first...always. XXOO Kate

Chaya, ASN, RN · Jun 13, 2004

You MUST wear protective equipment! It's not only for you- do it to make sure you are not carrying any infectious material to your next patient.

zambezi, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2004

Can you wear masks, gowns, face coverings, etc. in with a patient that may have projectile fluids? I don't want to be rude or make them feel uncomfortable, but I REALLY don't want anything blowing in my face.
Also, can anyone tell me if Oil of Wintergreen put under your nose helps with horrible smells? MY A&P instructor told us she used it during her clinicals long time ago, didn't know if it still worked. Thanks.

Certainly, wear all the PPE you can...most patients understand...you don't want any of their stuff (and they probably don't want in on you either...)and neither do you other patients, coworkers, and families...I will say that in the whole two years that I have been a RN, I don't think that I have ever had a patient with projectile vomiting...emesis yes, projectile no...I have had projectile feces (I know, so much more than you wanted to know)...so watch out for that too, because I sure wasn't expecting it-pt was ventilated, turning made her cough, and out it came, it even hit the curtains...what a mess! If it had hit me we would have had to clean up my vomit as well...but my coworkers helping me turn the patient though it was pretty funny :rotfl: aahhh..the things we do...my first thought after "I'm glad that didn't hit me" was "at least her bowels are finally working!" Strangely enough, most people seem to get over the icky smells as they "get used to them" and learn to breathe through their mouth...I just try to think that I'm glad it is not me--where is that Inapsine!

suzy253, RN · Jun 13, 2004

absolutely you could and should wear PPE's.

my instructor told us about using Vicks Vapo Rub under our noses.

hock1 · Jun 14, 2004

I try to get my patients to turn their face away from me when they cough, if I'm up close and personal. I wash my hands constantly. When I return home, the outfit is bagged and my shoes/uniform are washed separately from our regular laundry. My biggest pet peeve is when staff/patient wipes butts, noses, ect and then touches everything in the room while wearing gloves. Yuk!