I feel awful...

[greeniebean]

So in 6 years of being a CNA (3 of those years i've had children) I've never so much as caught a cold from work. I'm super careful about infection control, I try not to let my kids touch me until after I've showered and cleaned my uniform. I don't even wear my work shoes in the house. But the other day my 3 year old informed me that his hip hurt. I pulled off his shorts and almost passed out. A swollen red-purple lump about the size of a dime. I KNEW it was staph. Nontheless, I scheduled a Dr's app. immediatley, hoping I was wrong. I wasn't. My baby boy has staph. The Dr. tried to reassure me that I caught it very early and since they drained it and gave him antibiotics he'll be fine, but I can't help but feel unsurmountable guilt. Yes you can get staph a number of ways but when his mom works at an LTC, I think it narrows it down. The Dr said it could have been as simple as him grabbing my unifrom for a second and then putting his hand in his nose, mouth, or eyes. Or me having the germs on my skin, and not bleaching the bathtub after I got out, then him getting in it. FYI- I never even though about this!

I just want to quit my job, give up on nursing, and crawl under a rock. Why couldn't I have gotten it instead of my baby? I'm having to force him to take these nasty tasting antibiotics 3 times a day, and he says "mommy, I want to throw up, it's nasty" and all I can do is continue to force them down. I feel like the worlds worst mother. I can think of nothing else. I keep playing the "what-if" game.

I just needed to vent. Thanks for reading. Please pray for my baby.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

Don't beat yourself up. You caught it early, so that's good. He could have gotten it from anywhere, like the McDonald's playplace or something! You don't know for sure that YOU brought it home to him.

Anyway, hope he feels better soon!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Don't beat yourself up. You caught it early, so that's good. He could have gotten it from anywhere, like the McDonald's playplace or something! You don't know for sure that YOU brought it home to him.

Anyway, hope he feels better soon!

yes, anywhere, any time......

[mizfradd, CNA]

Please don't keep blaming yourself, the other posters are 100% correct...he could have gotten it anywhere, not necessarily transported home by you!

Look, when people push grocery carts nowadays they are at risk for MRSA, it's practically eveywhere.

You are a very loving & caring mother. :redbeathe

Don't even think about quitting your job as a CNA!

To protect him further, have you gotten him his 2 Hep. A immunizations yet? Hep. A is especially good for tots in preschool where their hands are touching all sorts of things & sharing toys & food & then touching things to their mouths that have been handled by others.

A lot of pediatricians seem to forget to recommend Hep. A to parents of small kids.

It's 1 shot & then you have 6 months to 1 yr. later to get the second (last) shot.

[Busia]

You could have brought anything home from any job, medical or not. I agree, don't beat yourself up about it. You did the right thing when you realized what was going on, and he'll be better soon. My dh works construction, he brought home some kind of nasty rash once, he didn't have any clue. Two of our three kids started itching and getting nasty almost blister-like sores, we took them in, got some cream for it, all the time wondering where it came from. When he went back to work on Monday, three of the guys he works with all had the same thing! They figure they got into something, a weed or something, while working on Friday. So don't beat yourself up, or blame yourself for the job you have. All we can do is our best, and you are doing that!

[tishirajan]

Oh mimib, don't be so hard on yourself sweetie! He could have gotten it anywhere. My nephew-in-law just got over a bout of staph that he got from a trip to Las Vegas. You are a good mom and don't blame yourself for this. Know that you all will be in my thoughts and prayers. Don't forget, YOU ARE A GREAT MOM!:icon_hug: