Nurses, do you immediately take bath after duty?

[ms.pebbles]

Say you had 8hours duty in the hospital and you're really exhausted coz of walking around the hospital to attend to the needs of the patients, now when you get home, do you immediately clean yourself up or take a few minutes rest first? and why? thanks:redpinkhe:redpinkhe:redpinkhe:redpinkhe:redpinkhe

[Sparrowhawk]

Does it have a negative effect on our body if we immediately take a shower even if we're really really tired??

No...why would it? Showers are relaxing..the only negative thing I can think of taking a shower tired is falling asleep standing up and falling out of the shower onto my head or something.:)

[katkonk, BSN, RN]

Just putting up a BIG red flag here....judging from the topics that this original poster has been putting up here at allnurses, I'm thinking they are a "troll".

Think before spending too much time answering the questions.

[Sparrowhawk]

Troll or just really really needy and young. Long time to be a member and be a troll though...

[caliotter3]

Just putting up a BIG red flag here....judging from the topics that this original poster has been putting up here at allnurses, I'm thinking they are a "troll".

Think before spending too much time answering the questions.

Absolutely, here is my set-up in my backyard! :)

Still this is a great topic, especially when we get such good ideas!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Just putting up a BIG red flag here....judging from the topics that this original poster has been putting up here at allnurses, I'm thinking they are a "troll".

Think before spending too much time answering the questions.

Be careful using that term. The last time I posted that I suspected a troll, my post was removed for what was described as calling someone an unkind name. I was also advised by Staff not to use that term as it derails the thread.

I always thought that "troll" was an accepted internet description and the post was goofy enough that I seriously thought that it applied.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

As a police officer and EMT it's always been my policy to shower as soon as I walk in the house, and I guarantee I've been pretty darn tired. I want to get the public funk off of me.

[GreyGull]

Say you had 8hours duty in the hospital and you're really exhausted coz of walking around the hospital to attend to the needs of the patients, now when you get home, do you immediately clean yourself up or take a few minutes rest first? and why? thanks:redpinkhe:redpinkhe:redpinkhe:redpinkhe:redpinkhe

Troll or not, this is actually a very interesting question. When I first started working in the hospitals, they were doing the studies on employees for MRSA or whatever pathogens we might be carrying. The studies also demonstrated where our hands came in contact with our uniforms or scrubs. Since that time many of us have not worn our scrubs to work nor have we worn them outside of the hospital to our homes. This is also the same for our work shoes and we even have a nice place to keep all the employee shoes separate from our lockers.

One the shift ends, the scrubs go either into the hospital laundry if hospital property or they go into a plastic bag and straight to the laundry room at home. A "scrub out" similar to what is done prior to starting work is done until a shower can be taken once we get home. Once that is done, time to rest, relax or play. This is just a ritual that I and many others have adopted which also helps leave work behind by taking off the costume and leaving the stage clean. It is like the Disney philosophy of "on stage" and "off stage".

The transport teams and Flight also don't wear their uniforms outside of the work environment and will change at work. They also have easy access to showers as do other employees for those who like to run or bike to work and also want to clean up before leaving.

The tent in the backyard is not a bad idea either but having your own shower at home and a quick disinfect after use is also good too. Work clothes are washed separately and I personally prefer to use the hospital's scrubs so I don't have to bring them home. There's enough community acquired infections out there for my family to acquire but I am going to do my part to see they don't pick them up in my house.

Here's another "goofy" question? How many go grocery shopping while still in your hospital scrubs after a shift of patient care? How many at least do a good "scrub out" when you clock out?

[missingunc]

you make a good point. I often will see people in scrubs at the grocery store.. and i think its "ehh". I mean what if they just got off a shift.. and really, they do daily stuff in their scrubs after patient care, the general sick atmosphere they work in?

[lucylu 777]

I always take off my scrubs in the garage and put on my robe because as soon as I walk in my little one runs in for hugs. I usually take a shower shortley after - it wakes me up and helps me stay up for another few hours.

[shoecrazynurse]

LOL.....

i'm laughing at all the other posts, that outside shower is awesome!

well, When i first got my RN i was in LnD and was exposed to a lot of fluids, so yes.... pretty much always took a shower.

Then I worked ER. So, with all the bugs like C-diff, MRSA, HIV, Hep C floating around I DEFINETELY ALWAYS took a shower before I sat, or layed on anything in my house. And i left my shoes in my garage. Work shoes NEVER entered my house!

Now i work in a clean, clinic setting in GI Lab (yes, believe it or not, GI is surprisingly clean! lol ) so no, I rarely take a shower before going to bed. Most people there are healthly, not infected, and only there for a screening colonoscopy.

What setting do you work in?

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I always shower after work, no matter how tired I feel! I just feel gross after an 8-12hr shift.

[Blouis, APRN]

After 12 hours on a busy Med/Surg unit. I ALWAYS shower as soon as I get home. I dont even hug my children first. I speak, strip, and shower.