T-Wave

Hi All, I am looking for some feedback. When is a sharps injury not a sharps injury? I am about to get into it with an provider over semantics. Just because it doesn't involve a needle, doesn't mean that someone wasn't at risk of a sharps injury. We had an incident were some reusable equipment was taken from the clinic to a patient's bedside were an intra-vitreal "tap and inject" was done for a patient with endophthalmitis (FYI: vancomycin and ceftazadime). An adjustable caliper (see picture) was used. The equipment was then returned to the clinic in an emesis basin with other supplies inside. A staff member goes to collect the other items, doesn't know this is there. It was a near miss. It broke the glove, but not the skin. So my question to the group: Had the staff member been stuck/ had skin broken, would you have called this a sharps injury and activated sharps (I.e. needle stick) injury protocol? Am I over reacting? Best regards, T-Wave

Hi Wuzzie, Thanks for clarifying about the low grade temp./ fever. It is this kind of disinformation that we *don't* need. Yes I am sure it was a nurse. I actually got alot of blow-back from her. saying I thought she was, essentially, a hypochondriac! Just because I was skeptical of the sketchy advice she was given! But I certainly don't know everything. I was thinking that maybe the nurse meant something like it is bacterial if her fever responded to the acetaminophen and viral if it did not. But, like Trust in Jesus said it should just work. Best, T-Wave

So the world had turned topsy-turvy with COVID-19. My wife and kids are both home because everything has shut down. They have been social distancing, as it were, for about two weeks. The only exception is that my wife had to go to the local ER a week ago Sunday and then again on Wednesday for an MRI. Then yesterday she says that she has a fever (99.4 F) a runny nose off & on and a slightly sore throat. and jaw pain. But at the end of the day she says it is all gone. It is back again today. Her fever never went above 99.5 F. Sore throat is back. And a cough. So I say call our PCP, tell them what is going on. The nurse says to self-quarantine and take Tylenol. And... Here is the crux of my issue... "Take the Tylenol, if your fever goes down, you don't have "it" [COVID-19], and if your fever doesn't, you have "it". I don't know it all, but I would love to know more. So, fellow Nurses, does this correlate with your clinical experience? Any anecdotal experiences? (influenza, COVID-19 or anything else?) Anyone heard about any research along these lines? (Acetaminophen effects being an indicator to r/o or r/I Corona Virus or even any virus?) Looking to be better informed, T-Wave

I completely understand. I am in an ambulatory clinic and we had yet to provide care to a COVID-19 positive patient. But everyone is panicking. I reassure them that I have been in healthcare for 30 years and have never had an infection that I have picked up from a patient. I have never brought anything home. Of course I am concerned! Of course I am cautious. Very Cautious. But....This is a new kind of craziness. I have never seen attitude like this before. Stay happy, Stay healthy! T-Wave

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate the information. 2019 was a pretty rough year. Everyone of my three kids had a similar level (but medically different) problem. 2020 looked to be so promising then.... dun dun da..... COVID-19! Best, T-Wave

Looking for information and possibly articles on basic, universal seizure care. I need to brush up on latest info. We had a patient go into her second seizure while in our out-patient clinic. All I could do was take vitals, O2 and lay her on her side. What assessments, interventions (sans pharmaceuticals) could I have done so I am better prepared for next time? Many thanks! T-Wave