C.Diff Waste on Floor?

Nurses Safety

Published

Hi all, I appreciate your input. I am new to nursing (student, CNA also) and signed on with a new facility. I have worked in long-term care before. I have a question. I noticed on overnights (there are 54 beds 2 ppl, I assume this is ok) that there is a patient with C.Diff and their waste products were put in a trash bag by a CNA and then left outside of the break room. All trash was disposed of in the proper container just before shift ended. Isn't this unsafe? Shouldn't all waste, especially contaminated waste, be disposed of immediately and not sitting outside a resident door or the break room (not just for the smell, but also for safety and contamination). Also, is it not better for all care providers to don gloves when working with residents? I noticed one in particular that did not do this, nor did she wash her hands regularly.

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Your co-worker doesn't wear gloves when coming into contact with bodily fluids? Please tell me you talked to this person about proper hand hygiene and PPE. That's just disgusting and this person is spreading germs all over the place.

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Yes we chatted. The bigger question however.... are those bags ok sitting on the floor for hours on end in places like outside the break room? I was taught to throw them out immediately. Thank you!

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Oh yeah..... That's disgusting too.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Yes we chatted. The bigger question however.... are those bags ok sitting on the floor for hours on end in places like outside the break room? I was taught to throw them out immediately. Thank you!

So what would keep you from donning gloves and a gown and walking those bags to the proper trash receptacle? It's what I would have done. In every questionable situation ask yourself "what is the appropriate right action?"

Hppy

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Thank you Hppy. It is certainly what I would do moving forward. I appreciate it!

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The no gloves and lack of handwashing bothers me more than the trash bags. After all, the trash is just sitting there. Those unwashed/ungloved hands are going from room to room. Patient to patient. Coworker to coworker...

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Specializes in Critical Care.

So was the C diff waste "on the floor" or was it in a trash bag which was on the floor? Those are two very different things.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

ANY trash bag should be disposed of immediately and properly. And to not use gloves is stupid and dangerous.

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Thank you all for your comments. Both. I have seen ppl just pulling out chux to *chuck waste on the floor or wherever, then putting in proper disposal bags. I think we all agree that gloves are needed and waste needs to be disposed of. And, even if it is in a proper waste bag, I do not think leaving it out where people may be eating is appropriate. At any rate, the issue has been addressed. I am very appreciative of all your insights. Even if it was ordinary waste, who is to say what it may contain? Proper hygiene is always necessary. In health, and best to you all!

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