I'm having a hard time not critiquing every single thing the nurses/Dr. I come into contact with are doing.
Last week I had to take my child into the ER and a follow up with the primary today. The Dr. was the worst in the ER with procedure related sterility and today the nurse didn't even wash her hands when coming into contact with my child. I don't ever tell anyone I'm a nursing student (because the last time I did that I was quizzed on the spot) so nobody knew I was monitoring things like a hawk lol. I know things are different outside of nursing school so I don't get all loud and self righteous I'm just a little annoyed that I can't just go in for medical treatment and trust everyone to be following proper precautions for my/my children's safety and health!
How do I get over that? Do I say anything to those not washing hands? How do I say that without being a total psycho witch?
This is about more than you being a nursing student, you are advocating for your child. My brother was very sick growing up and my parents never left his side (took turns) while he was in the hospital and it probably saved his life as they questioned everything and knew what the left and right hands were doing, when sometimes different doctors were doing their different things.
They weren't nursing students and had no medical training but they were his biggest advocates. Never be afraid to question the nurses, doctors and whomever is treating your child.
I feel that there are certain things you want to say ASAP and then there are others that you probably want to keep under your hat.... Infection control is one I would speak up about, but putting in your two cents about how the nurse is placing the BP cuff on too tight might be something to keep to yourself.
As far as the hand washing, keep in mind that you're in the ER. I am an ER nurse and when I've got a full zone of 16 patients there is NO way I'm washing my hands between every single patient - I will of course if I've got a patient in isolation or a lot of bodily fluids to deal with, but otherwise it's hand sanitizer and a change of gloves!
I feel that there are certain things you want to say ASAP and then there are others that you probably want to keep under your hat.... Infection control is one I would speak up about, but putting in your two cents about how the nurse is placing the BP cuff on too tight might be something to keep to yourself.
As far as the hand washing, keep in mind that you're in the ER. I am an ER nurse and when I've got a full zone of 16 patients there is NO way I'm washing my hands between every single patient - I will of course if I've got a patient in isolation or a lot of bodily fluids to deal with, but otherwise it's hand sanitizer and a change of gloves!
This is exactly why I tend to struggle with saying something or not. And hand sanitizer is considered washing hands from what the hospitals have taught me. So even some hand sanitizer!
This is exactly why I tend to struggle with saying something or not. And hand sanitizer is considered washing hands from what the hospitals have taught me. So even some hand sanitizer!
Did the nurse use hand sanitizer? Everywhere I have have worked has had the policy that hand sanitizing is acceptable in most cases (rather than actually washing). I believe this is the recommendation of an "official" organization (CDC?).
This is exactly why I tend to struggle with saying something or not. And hand sanitizer is considered washing hands from what the hospitals have taught me. So even some hand sanitizer!
Are you sure she didn't use it before coming into the room, too? all the hospitals I've done clinicals at we foamed in... if we were talking as we were walking in, we sometimes rubbed it in before getting 100% in the room (not saying you're wrong, just benefit of the doubt?)
Are you sure she didn't use it before coming into the room, too? all the hospitals I've done clinicals at we foamed in... if we were talking as we were walking in, we sometimes rubbed it in before getting 100% in the room (not saying you're wrong, just benefit of the doubt?)
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I feel that there are certain things you want to say ASAP and then there are others that you probably want to keep under your hat.... Infection control is one I would speak up about, but putting in your two cents about how the nurse is placing the BP cuff on too tight might be something to keep to yourself.
As far as the hand washing, keep in mind that you're in the ER. I am an ER nurse and when I've got a full zone of 16 patients there is NO way I'm washing my hands between every single patient - I will of course if I've got a patient in isolation or a lot of bodily fluids to deal with, but otherwise it's hand sanitizer and a change of gloves!
As an ER nurse I wash my hands or use sanitizer between every patient. I squirt my hands every room I walk into and out of.
I walk in, squirt my hands, as I introduce myself. Do my thing and squirt my hands as I walk out...on to the next. If I actually "touch them" I wash my hands in the sink as I leave and talk to the patient.
I guess I'm more OCD than I thought. Even in triage I sanitize between every patient. My hands look like crap...but I gave up on pretty hands a LONG time ago.
OP...I will ask hands to be washed or sanitized. When my Dad had open heart/valve replacement we (my sisters and I) placed hand sanitizer right on his bedside stand with a box of gloves and a sign...wash hands wear gloves PLEASE.
If the wound was sutured sterility is relative as along an the MD didn't drag the needle/sutures across the bed you're fine. The wound is a dirty wound and infection is already a risk. It's more "aseptic" than truly "sterile".
You don't have to be in nursing school to DEMAND that whoever is treating you perform proper hand hygeine. There actually was a study done that most patients want to see their docs/nurses/etc do it but are too scared to ask. So don't be!
I actually find that, for the most part, telling my nurses (I'm doing LPN-RN now) that I'm in nursing school makes them more responsive to me as a "person" and not just a "patient"--with a few exceptions (who probably just shouldn't be in the field to begin with!)....gives us stuff to bond over (like how bad docs are with IV's....or school, clinicals, where I hope to work....)--as someone with chronic illness I'm a patient often, I actually find the nurses generally appreciate my knowledge AND my appreciation of how hard they work.....I think it's all in your approach....
krisiepoo
784 Posts
This is about more than you being a nursing student, you are advocating for your child. My brother was very sick growing up and my parents never left his side (took turns) while he was in the hospital and it probably saved his life as they questioned everything and knew what the left and right hands were doing, when sometimes different doctors were doing their different things.
They weren't nursing students and had no medical training but they were his biggest advocates. Never be afraid to question the nurses, doctors and whomever is treating your child.