EDScrubLife77

I can’t figure out how to change my handle, but I’ve now been a nurse for 4 years, and I’m the ED for 2. I of course see positive COVID patients, but I always wear the proper PPE, don and doffing appropriately, change out of my scrubs at work, and shower as soon as I get home. Other than work, I’ve left my house very minimally and only saw a few select people from over 6 feet away. I’ve done my best to follow all state guidelines. The area where I live is starting phased reopening next week. I already have been invited to a (very small) family gathering after that time. I know most people in my life will very cautiously start to begin some sort of normal life. But my question for my fellow nurses is this: as someone who takes care of COVID patients, at what point will you be comfortable being around others either in your family or in the community? I know we can be seeing COVID patients for the next few months if not years and isolating for that whole span would obviously not be feasible.

So I’ve worked in an ER as an RN for about a year. I had a patient come in today with a weird generalized rash. At times, we are a little relaxed about PPE. I know I never touched her directly without gloves, but I definitely put a blood pressure cuff and pulse ox cable a few times without wearing gloves, just out of habit. Well I was super surprised when our PA told me she thought the patient had scabies. I never even had a gown or anything on and was in contact with her surroundings. Totally freaking out at my chances of getting it. Please help calm my nerves.

I'm a brand new nurse. Last weekend at work, I got stuck while injecting heparin into a patient. The patient had no known history of HIV, hepatitis B or C. However, the patient would not consent to having her blood drawn. Therefore, I have to get blood work done once a month for 6 months. I'm told that we can't rule out any issues until the six month mark. The employee health nurse at my work seems to believe I don't have much to be concerned about. If this patient happened to be affected, theres a .3% chance of getting HIV and 1.8% of hepatitis C from a needle stick. I was not recommended to go on any post-exposure prophylaxis for that reason because the risks outweigh the benefits. My boyfriend is extremely concerned about this whole ordeal. He thinks its best to abstain from all sexual activity until I get the all clear at 6 months. I've always been lead to believe that a condom would protect us from HIV even if I would end up affected (which the chances are super slim). But he seems to believe that with a condom, he would still be at risk. Just wondering if anybody can offer any advice or resources on this issue. I'd really like to be able to educate my boyfriend and convince him that if following the proper safe sex techniques.