Nursing student going into clinicals with a stomach virus

[us2uk4u]

We were studying for our mid-terms today and someone from the group mentioned that a girl from her clinical is planning to still show up at her medsurg clinical even though she has a virus (airborne). Apparently, the make up assignment for her group is just too much work. In our school, it doesn't matter if you are sick or deathly ill. If you miss a clinical you have to do an assignment.

Now, I'm thinking that this is irresponsible but we all wondered if we had the right to say something to the instructor since she will be exposing post op patients,who are already vulnerable to infections, to the virus. Should we not mention it all or should we mention it to the instructor w/o clearly naming the person?

I know that I should say something but then I am not even in her lecture class nor in her clinical group. I don't know ... we all didn't know what to do ...

[Jules A, MSN]

Personally I'd like to know how it has been decided that this person has an air-borne virus. I'm not saying this is ideal but our attendence requirements were so strict that I would not have missed a clinical for anything.

[us2uk4u]

Sorry, didn't meant to type airborne but this member is pretty sure that she has the stomach virus because she went with this student to the doctor.

[pennyaline]

I know that I should say something but then I am not even in her lecture class nor in her clinical group. I don't know ... we all didn't know what to do ...

Do nothing. It's between the student and her instructor.

There is no such thing as a stomach "virus," by the way. And even if there was, it wouldn't be airborne.

[mochamonster]

If she uses PPE and proper hand hygiene it shouldn't pose a problem. People walk around during the incubation period of infections and are contagious and don't even know it. I would leave it alone. I also agree with the previous poster, "stomach bugs" are oftentimes food poisoning.

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

Well, there is something going around here...puking with diarrhea, and its VERY contagious. ALOT of people are getting it. I wouldnt want someone like that in my family member's room, unless they wore a mask and sanitized their hands really good (alot of nurses dont wash hands {yuck}). Our clinicals were strict also, but if we had something that would jepordize the safety of the patient, we had to make it up with a different clinical group on a different day.

[military spouse]

I think she should go. Most jobs really don't tolerate call-offs due to illness so why should clinicals be any different. Most jobs I've worked have wanted/expected employees to go to work unless deathly ill. Still trying to figure out what sick time is for?

[Mission]

I know we had a large number of cases of viral gastroenteritis (aka stomach virus/flu) where I live lately. It's not airborne. She (and everyone) should use PPE regardless of how she's feeling.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

There is no such thing as a stomach "virus," by the way. And even if there was, it wouldn't be airborne.

What about Norovirus? Rotavirus? Calicivirus? Astrovirus?

To the OP, the key to breaking the chain of infection is hand hygiene. As long as your classmate practices meticulous hand hygiene, then patients/staff/fellow nursing students will not be at risk. MYOB.

[NurseAdida]

what about norovirus? rotavirus? calicivirus? astrovirus?

to the op, the key to breaking the chain of infection is hand hygiene. as long as your classmate practices meticulous hand hygiene, then patients/staff/fellow nursing students will not be at risk. myob.

right there is your answer...handwashing!

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

At my school, students who came to clinical sick were sent home. One student who wasn't sent home spent the day answering the phone and filling out paperwork.