Infection control issue with pts. in precautions

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I recently had a patient in prec. for MRSA and VRE. I was passing ice and the family member met me at the door. I gave her two disposable cups with ice in them and re-inforced the idea that we arent allowed to take the pts. cups out of the room if they are in prec. of any kind. Well she had no idea what i was talking about. I know i did the right thing, but how could i tell her in a nice way "these morons should have been doing this!" any thoughts??

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Just tell her she can't take the pt's cups out of the room and explain why. Period.

What morons should have been doing what BTW?

Z

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I know what you mean. I was caring for a TB patient and the family got angry at me because I wouldn't leave the door open (negative pressure room) and the pt. wanted to go for a walk around the unit....no good....

Keely

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the stupid people i was referring to was my co-workers who blatently took the infected pts cup out of the room each time. Definitely interfering with standard protocol concerning infection control.a new cup is to be administered each time.

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the stupid people i was referring to was my co-workers who blatently took the infected pts cup out of the room each time. Definitely interfering with standard protocol concerning infection control.a new cup is to be administered each time.

I agree. Or what about not having disposable instruments for taking VS??? Our aides take the nurse-on-a-stick right into the room!! Manager sees no problems w/ this!!!!

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Amen! haha i will say that the cheap disposaable stethoscopes are a waste! But what can you do? haha

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I was on a cardiac unit and we were a little spoiled in that we had individual tele monitors, blood pressure, temp, oximeter, etc in each room so if a pt. as on precautions, we didn't have to do anything different. We just disinfected the room when they were discharged (as with all other rooms) It also saved A LOT of time not having to pull the portable BP pole around...We also just got the patient brand new pichers when we had to refill. We went through alot but it's just what you have to do.

Keely

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Specializes in NICU.

Sometimes things are weird...this week on clinicals I had two pts on contact precautions, and I asked if they had dedicated BP cuffs. Nooo. So I took the VS and then asked the RN what I should do to disinfect them, like maybe alcohol wipes. (I know I sound stupid, but I've only been in nursing school for a week and a half and it was my first clinical) She looked at me like I was from another planet. Oh, she also didn't know WHY the pts were on contact precautions or what their dx's were... :uhoh21:

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Sometimes things are weird...this week on clinicals I had two pts on contact precautions, and I asked if they had dedicated BP cuffs. Nooo. So I took the VS and then asked the RN what I should do to disinfect them, like maybe alcohol wipes. (I know I sound stupid, but I've only been in nursing school for a week and a half and it was my first clinical) She looked at me like I was from another planet. Oh, she also didn't know WHY the pts were on contact precautions or what their dx's were... :uhoh21:

We have those disposable ER cuffs and really cheap stethoscopes that are assigned for that patient. You can disinfect a regular cuff. We have these wipes and they disinfect. I can't think of the brand name but we used them all the time to disinfect beds, clean telemetry equipment after use, etc. Sometimes patients are put on precautions for a suspected dx. Our infection control manager said that we should treat all patients like they are on precautions because what if one day you came in and took care of Mr. Jones and then the next morning you come in and he has a TB precaution sign on his door...you just don't know. :uhoh21:

Keely

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My first experience with a patient on isolation precautions was my second quarter of school, my first patient that quarter. She has respiratory MRSA and was on full precautions, I had never had to gown, mask, ect before and I was pretty freeked out- I did not want to go in, then once I was in there I did not want to come out because I did not want to bring anything out with me. The facility I was at had all the equipment in the room, so that was not an issue for me but I understand how nervous someone can be their first time dealing with someone on precautions.

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Everyone should heed precautions. It's irresponsible not to do so. If you find your peers are not, your manager doesn't care, go to infection control. There is isolation for a reason. All should heed....

Be well.

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The actions of the staff are not excusable but not surprising. A friend had an experience, at a major medical center in Brooklyn, that involved MSRA. Her physicians, the house staff, the nursing staff, the dietary staff, none followed isolation precautions in the manner they should have. I was appalled and I use to work at that hospital. I recommended she write a letter to the DON, the Medical Services Chief, the Chief of Infectious Disease and Infection control.

Grannynurse :balloons:

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