Germs, germs, and more germs

[Brian, ASN, RN]

Nurses are surrounded by germs all day long. Our handwashing routines are so ingrained in us that we wash our hands until they are sometimes almost raw in an attempt to protect ourselves. Have you ever been accused of going overboard at home in your battle of the bugs?

[sharpeimom]

Yes! Sometimes my husband says I'm being just a teensy bit neurotic

when I tell him, "No! I can't just use a baby wipe! I need to wash my

hands with actual SOAP and water!"

I do that when I've given one of the furkids a pill, put allergy cream on

the dog, etc. I know where that tongue has been! If that makes me Felix Unger,then so be it.

[SeattleJess]

No, no, no! Eliminate the word "antibiotic" from this toon and I laugh. But in view of all we know about increased resistance of bacteria due to overuse of antibiotics this is not funny.

I do use good old soap and water much, much more than I did before starting to move into the world of heathcare.

[sharpeimom]

Jess,

We use good old Ivory. Dull, huh? Great minds think alike.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I am in the school of thought that worries more about creating more resistant germs. I only use antibacterial gel/soap at work. I never worried overmuch about carrying germs from work into my house on my uniform and shoes, after all I figure I am probably bringing more germs home after a trip to Walmart than after a day at work.

[jaycam, RN]

I think Jess and I had the same Microbiology professor, but agreed, regular hand soap or hand sanitizer. No antibiotics, and that is one or the other, not both