I'm a dork about my hands and handwashing.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I'm not dead, if anyone has noticed! I've been working really hard on my new fancy keyboard.

I still haven't received a CPNE date, but I'm slowly cowing out about the excessive gelling and handwashing, but not for reasons that other people cow out about it. I probably won't be able to carry a tube of Vaseline or Aquaphor in my pocket to apply to my hands every stinking time, will I?

The reason I ask is I have the gnarliest hands ever. I have dyshidrotic eczema on my hands, the significance being that I cannot recall any time in life that my hands have ever been complete healed without several fissures in my fingers and palms (alcohol gel hurts!), and they require constant lube that is not lotion. (Lotion will make my hands break out worse.) I know Vaseline is not cool to wear with latex because it breaks the latex down, but since I have a latex allergy, does this still apply to the vinyl gloves that I will be donning?

When I became an LPN, the doctor doing my physical told me I should consider another career because of my hands. LOL Well, I may be a nerdy un-handwashing transcriptionist for the rest of my days, but I'll still become an RN, dang it, even if I have to suffer through 2 days of pain.

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Seriously, contact the disabilities office and explain this to them. They might have a solution. There HAVE to be other people with ecxema.

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Specializes in Med surg and Psych.

Good luck to you Apple! Traci

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Is there possibly a prescription handwashing soap you could use? I would think there would have to be something safe for you because you can't just not use hand gel and wash your hands infrequently when you are working. Maybe antibacterial lotion rather than alcohol gel between washings is a possibility?

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
Is there possibly a prescription handwashing soap you could use? I would think there would have to be something safe for you because you can't just not use hand gel and wash your hands infrequently when you are working. Maybe antibacterial lotion rather than alcohol gel between washings is a possibility?

If there is an Rx hand soap, I haven't heard of it, but that would be great! Lotions are definitely a no for my stupid freaking hands. Unfortunately, the alcohol and fragrances in them are really hard on my hands.

I haven't worked as a nurse for several years (I do medical transcription--no washing required!), so this hasn't been as immediate of an issue for me usually. I may just have to bear it with the hand gel during the test because I absolutely know that I will have fissures and breaks in my hands. (This isn't like regular eczema--I get that joy on my legs and arms. This hand stuff really sucks.) Incidentally, two of the things that can make my hands flare up are water and soap. I can handle that, I guess, but the gel will be an immediate pain when applied.

However, I may be okay if I can just carry some stuff to put on my hands (Vaseline or Aquaphor) and my medicine for my hands. I can't see how that would be an issue, seeing as I am not going to be wearing latex gloves because of my "latex allergy disability."

My post has reminded me why nursing is really not where I should be. I'm a good transcriptionist, I like the job and my company, and I like the solitude, but I got caught up in the idea of helping people with weight loss issues as a nurse. That was the direction I was thinking of taking, but it's hard to fathom when I can't even wash my hands like I should. Blech!

Anyway, I'm thinking I will have to endure even gnarlier hands for 2 days to at least put the RN notch in my belt, and that is the ultimate goal.

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

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Hope you can find a solution so you CAN work as a nurse if you want to. That's got to be sooo frustrating. :(

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However, I may be okay if I can just carry some stuff to put on my hands (Vaseline or Aquaphor) and my medicine for my hands. I can't see how that would be an issue, seeing as I am not going to be wearing latex gloves because of my "latex allergy disability."

There isn't a facility in the US that doesn't have latex-free gloves everywhere.

Slather them with Vaseline and use the sanitizer whenever possible. I would sanitize upon entering/leaving rooms and wash before and after any direct patient contact.

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Have you contacted EC about this??? Good luck with your upcoming CPNE and keep us posted.

:flwrhrts:GOOD LUCK!!

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
Have you contacted EC about this??? Good luck with your upcoming CPNE and keep us posted.

:flwrhrts:GOOD LUCK!!

Thanks!

They only know about my latex allergy. I had to fill out the disability paperwork regarding that so I can be latex free for the CPNE. I don't think it would be looked on too kindly if I said my hands have difficulty with handwashing and gelling. I don't think I could be exempt. LOL

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
There isn't a facility in the US that doesn't have latex-free gloves everywhere.

Slather them with Vaseline and use the sanitizer whenever possible. I would sanitize upon entering/leaving rooms and wash before and after any direct patient contact.

I don't know how militant they are at the CPNE sites regarding putting a tube of Vaseline and my hand medicine in my pocket while I'm with patients, but I think I'm just going to have to try to do it--or I could get off my lazy butt and EC!

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call them!

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.
call them!

gotta call them. you don't have to use the alcohol based gels if you just stick to soap and water. that's what i did for my testing. i used the alcohol on my first pcs but did not like the way it made my hands feel.

:flwrhrts: maybe they'll let you bring an unopened vaseline? or your own soap? :flwrhrts:

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