Isolation No Conatact Precautions?

[missninaRN]

I am a pre-nursing student and am volunteering on the SNF at my local hospital.

I have on a few occasions been asked by the acitivities director to deliver holiday treats and gifts to the patients. Some of the patients are in isolation and have a sign on their door that reads "No Contact". The director said that I can still go into these rooms as long as I don't touch the patients.

Is this correct? Is it safe to enter one of these rooms without gown, mask, etc. to just set a plate of food or gift on the table? I did wear gloves today, and removed them properly immediately after leaving the room.

Call me paranoid, but I'm just sitting here wondering if I exposed myself to something just in time for Christmas.

[mandana]

I wear gloves in contact rooms. I often gown too, because you never know when you're going to have patient contact even if you didn't plan on it.

If I were just walking in to set a tray down, I'd still glove.

Amanda

[Wen83]

I think it all depends on the type of precaution. If it says airborne or droplet precautions the you would definitely want to wear a mask and such. Since it sounds like just contact precautions, it is a good idea to wear gloves and also to wash your hands upon entering and leaving. If you were to get close to the patient like doing patient care, then you would have glove up, wear a gown. Since you're just leaving a tray or dropping something off, then I think it would be ok to just glove up. I think one main reason for contact precautions is so you don't take whatever germs there are and spread them around to other patients (for example those with weaker immune systems that might not be able to fight them off as well)... I hope that makes sense. Please correct me if I'm wrong... I'm still learning and still trying to survive nursing school haha :chuckle

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

The previous poster is right. If its contact wear gloves if your just going in an out and having no contact with the patient. Droplet wear a mask. You'll be fine. Just follow the precautions!

[Bird2]

If you are going to touch or have a potential to touch any pt care items or siderails then wear a gown and gloves. If you are just walking in to say hello and drop off an item then you should be ok without them. But always wash hands or use hand sanitizer prior to leaving the room. This is for Contact Isolation only so always check with the nurse on what that particular pts guidelines are to be on the safe side.

[prmenrs, RN]

If you're uncertain, ask one of the nurses. I'm sure they'll want you to feel comfortable. They shouldn't tell you why the pt is in Isolation, just what to do.

Also, carry a little bottle of hand sanitizer in your pocket. Keeping your hands clean is really essential not to spread the infection to yourself or anyone else.

Best Wishes, and thank you for being a volunteer.