Infection Prevention Misinformation

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Specializes in Dialysis.

a nurse friend of mine at Country Bumpkin General tested positive for CV-19 yesterday. Like me, she does the right things, and avoids situations that could have led to this, and takes precautions. She's the manager of the step-down unit, so limited patient contact. I haven't seen her in person for over 6+ months. She called me to let me know that she had tested positive, and she's got flu symptoms as well. I prayed with her, but then she told me that she had called to let me know so that I could be tested since we spoke on the phone last week. The infection preventionist at CBG is apparently telling folks that it can transmit through telephone lines. No, not picking up a dirty phone that should have been wiped, but through normal conversations through your personal cell phone! Who knew? (This is sarcasm for those who don't get it). I called the infection preventionist for clarification, thinking my friend had misunderstood. Noooooo...the young lady on the other end of the line informed how out of touch with current science I was, that this was in fact true, and very common knowledge. She in fact told me that since I've been away from school so long, perhaps I should find some materials to review ?  No wonder there is confusing information out there, when someone in a position like this is spouting oddball misinformation. And yes, I reported this to the CNO, who assured me that her infection preventionist is very up to date on her knowledge, and refused to listen to my reasoning. WOW!, just WOW!. I had to vent, as this sort of thing is dangerous and shows how out of hand things have gotten. Or it qualifies as the "stupid human in a position that they shouldn't be in" award of the week!  

I can't believe that my friend didn't question it, she went to nursing school with me, and is a smart cookie. I can only put it off to her being sick and not thinking straight

 

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29 minutes ago, Hoosier_RN said:

... The infection prevention is CBG is apparently telling folks that it can transmit through telephone lines. No, not picking up a dirty phone that should have been wiped, but through normal conversations through your personal cell phone! Who knew? ...

WOW!!  I had no idea!  I guess it's a good thing we use Vocera at work.  Wait! Can it be transmitted wirelessly as well? ? (Also sarcasm for those that don't get it.)

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Specializes in Dialysis.
10 minutes ago, chare said:

WOW!  I had no idea!  I guess it's a good thing we use Vocera at work.  Wait! Can it be transmitted wirelessly as well? ? (Also sarcasm for those that don't get it.)

???  I feel sorry for those who absolutely don't get it ???

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Specializes in Dialysis.
17 minutes ago, chare said:

WOW!  I had no idea!  I guess it's a good thing we use Vocera at work.  Wait! Can it be transmitted wirelessly as well? ? (Also sarcasm for those that don't get it.)

well, it's apparently going through cell phones ?

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

But, but, but what about my computer screen?????

Can I get it from the keys because I am communicating with all of you????? ?????

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12 minutes ago, Hoosier_RN said:

well, it's apparently going through cell phones ?

Darn it!  I guess I need t I call employee health, I might need to be tested as well. 

Just now, GrumpyRN said:

But, but, but what about my computer screen?????

Can I get it from the keys because I am communicating with all of you????? ?????

I think so.  You don't think AN might be the source of a major resurgence, do you? 

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
22 minutes ago, chare said:

I think so.  You don't think AN might be the source of a major resurgence, do you? 

Now THAT would explain the numbers going up. ??

 

(Unfortunately I can't find the emoji for "shakes head in despair at (some) of my fellow humans".)

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Specializes in Dialysis.
16 minutes ago, GrumpyRN said:

Now THAT would explain the numbers going up. ??

(Unfortunately I can't find the emoji for "shakes head in despair at (some) of my fellow humans.)

I wish you could find that emoji. It would be my most used 

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I seriously would call their local health department and talk it through with them just like you were a patient.

"I was told to call about getting tested?...yes, mmmhmmm...they said it was necessary due to the fact that I talked to someone who was positive on the phone?....mmmhmmm...they are saying that it's transmitted over the phone?

Oh? Okay.....well I think you should let them know because they are using a lot of resources calling people and telling them to get tested...? I'm sure I didn't misunderstand what they said, I talked to a few different people who were all adamant and saying the same thing, including their infection preventionist and their CNO....? Thanks."

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Specializes in Dialysis.
2 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

I seriously would call their local health department and talk it through with them just like you were a patient.

"I was told to call about getting tested?...yes, mmmhmmm...they said it was necessary due to the fact that I talked to someone who was positive on the phone?....mmmhmmm...they are saying that it's transmitted over the phone?

Oh? Okay.....well I think you should let them know because they are using a lot of resources calling people and telling them to get tested...? I'm sure I didn't misunderstand what they said, I talked to a few different people who were all adamant and saying the same thing, including their infection preventionist and their CNO....? Thanks."

I've already talked to one of the nurses there. Her take, the infection preventionist isn't the brightest bulb in the pack. Neither is the CNO. Health dept nurse already knew about this "approach", as she has been told by other patients before I called. She says she sent it up above with reporting, not much done about it as people who.have no reason to test, aren't. And the 2 lovelies at the hospital are related to the right people

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.
2 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

I've already talked to one of the nurses there. Her take, the infection preventionist isn't the brightest bulb in the pack. Neither is the CNO.  . . 

 And the 2 lovelies at the hospital are related to the right people

And there's the problem ?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Good lord. I don't know if I should laugh at that silliness or be disgusted that somebody who clearly should know better is spouting this nonsense.  We are no doubt doomed!!

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