Infection Protection?

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[color=#555143]healthcare workers routinely treat patients that carry infections. there is no way of predicting what germs you may encounter when treating a patient or what illness they will have. what precautions are you taking to protect yourself from the unknowns of your everyday job?

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Specializes in Nurse Anesthesia, ICU, ED.

I wash my hands every chance I get, leave my shoes at the door when I get home and change out of my work scrubs before I touch anyone/thing.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

There have been days where I call home and say, "Make sure there's nothing in the washer, leave the big bottle of GermX on the dryer and leave me a robe on the washer." But generally, I don't freak; I see too many of my MRSA positive patients in the Walmart, handing me my food out of a fast food window -- yup, worst MRSA pt I ever had, had MRSA everywhere but her eyelashes -- worked at a fast food place, taking money and handing out food--how many of us stop and wash our hands at the drive thru vs. diving into the bag for those fresh hot fries? I figure I was probably MRSA colonized just because I like cheeseburgers...

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Why do I get the feeling that this is a ruse? Are you even a healthcare worker?

In an ideal world, we would all change into scrubs at work, and back into street clothes at the end of the day. Leave our shoes in our locker, etc. There is only so much anyone can do, handwashing being the most obvious.

It's very important to try to NOT touch your face when you are at work - many viruses can enter thru our mouths, nose and eyes.

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There have been days where I call home and say, "Make sure there's nothing in the washer, leave the big bottle of GermX on the dryer and leave me a robe on the washer." But generally, I don't freak; I see too many of my MRSA positive patients in the Walmart, handing me my food out of a fast food window -- yup, worst MRSA pt I ever had, had MRSA everywhere but her eyelashes -- worked at a fast food place, taking money and handing out food--how many of us stop and wash our hands at the drive thru vs. diving into the bag for those fresh hot fries? I figure I was probably MRSA colonized just because I like cheeseburgers...

This is so funny, nasty and true. :eek:

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I wash my hands every chance I get, leave my shoes at the door when I get home and change out of my work scrubs before I touch anyone/thing.

I do the same thing but now after I get changed and throw my clothes in the laundry I wipe down the door handles with Odo-Ban which kills viruses--then I am ready to interact with the family.

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Thanks for your feedback, as nurses I wanted your opinion about what you do to protect yourselves so that I can better protect myself and my family.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I use "Standard Precautions".

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