Leaving it at work - Germs

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

Hey everyone,

I'm in nursing school and recently started my clinical rotations. I'm wondering what people do to make sure they don't bring any germs home with them. Yes, I constantly wash my hands and take the appropriate cautions while in the hospital. But, I live with some who is immunosuppresed (from chemo/leukemia), and I want to know if I should do anything special at home. Take my shoes/clothes off before I enter the house? I don't like to iron, so I take my scrubs to the cleaners. Does this disinfect them? Do I need to do anything with my shoes like ... spray them with lysol? Or, am I just being paranoid?

Thanks for your time!

~Jaxia

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Yeah the only thing you can do is change your clothes before going home and maybe wash off at someone elses house.

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Specializes in Nursing Home/Subacute/LTC.

Yeah you can change your clothes before going home and change your shoes before you get in your car.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I always leave my shoes outside the house. The other ideas sound good too. Best of luck in nursing school.

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I once worked with a foreign nurse who was shocked that we leave the hospital in the scrubs that we've been working in all day. We carry the germs to our cars, then go pick up and hug our kids in them, or go shopping in the supermarket in them after leaving work. Quite gross, if you really thing about it! :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

I would actually recommend talking to the above mentioned family member/friends doctor (with their permission of course!)

That would be the best route to take as those Dr's are familiar with immunosuppressed patients.

Otherwise I think changing as soon as you get home would be sufficient.

As for ironing scrubs, just know I dont iron mine very much. There are certain tops that no matter how I watch them, must be ironed. Others wash and dry just fine without wrinkles, those are my favorites!

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

I also take a thorough shower as soon as I get home. Think how many times some of us push our hair back into place during the day - our hair may be filled with germs!

When we don't have any company in the house, my first stop is the laundry room where my scrubs go right on the washer as I head to the shower.

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

Thanks for all the information!

I do take a shower as soon as I get home. I don't have somewhere else along the way to stop and shower. Should I change into another set of clothes before I leave the hospital and then take a shower when I get home? That would keep me from wearing my scrubs in the car. I do wear a lab coat, maybe just taking it off before I get in my car is enough? I will get another pair of shoes to leave in my car to take off my hospital shoes before I get in my car - that is a good idea!

What about dry cleaning? Does anyone know if that process kills germs?

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

/bump

Anyone?

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If you want to be super careful, shower at the hospital before you go home if there is a locker room.

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Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.

Jaxia, Can this person ask their oncologist what you should do?

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

Sadly, there is no shower for student use.

Maybe she could ask, but I'd rather take the initiative, ya know? Out of respect.

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