Really bad fever blister. Should I call in?

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I have a REALLY bad fever blister from being Out in the sun too long. It's terrible. I'm embarrassed about it. Should I call in?

A number of years ago I took report in ICU on a Friday evening at 7 pm from a nurse who had a fever blister/cold sore on her lip that was the size of a dime.

By the following Wednesday, I had shingles.

While I had been taking report, I recall thinking to myself that it didn't seem too wise to be providing patient care with a giant fever blister.

That nurse apparently had shed her virus all over the patient's room, and probably all around the unit.

I ended up on acyclovir, which cost $60 out of pocket in 1990. It was not covered by my employer's insurance at that time, as it was associated with treatment for genital herpes, and was regarded as a condition that an individual was supposed to be able to prevent, behaviorally.

Anyway, I did have to use sick time, and missed work. The infectious nurse? Her fever blister had dried up and she was permitted to continue working with no mandatory sick time.

So, yes, stay home - or at least find out your institution's policy.

Surely you are not suggesting that you got shingles by taking report from someone with an HSV-1 blister.

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Specializes in LTC, Wounds, Med/Surg, Tele, Triage.

For what it's worth...In my med-surg/tele days we had 3 RN's working on the night shift, all of whom were pregnant (myself included). We had to transfer a patient, to another med-surg floor , who was admitted with shingles dx - because of the risk of that virus to pregnant women. A nurse and an care partner from 2nd shift stayed over to facilitate that transfer process. I thought they may just transfer/float a nurse that was not pregnant but I was not in charge and the charge at the time felt having the patient off the unit was best.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Pediatrics.

My whole face is embarrassing but I don't call out every day because of it

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@PANYNP, The virus that causes fever blisters (HSV-1) is NOT the same virus that causes Shingles (varicella zoster).

Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus-you cannot get shingles unless you have had the chickenpox (or very rarely, if you have received the chickenpox vaccine). Can the Chickenpox Vaccine Cause Shingles Later in Life?

Being around someone with shingles cannot give you shingles, but it could give you chickenpox if you are not immune.

Being around someone with a fever blister CANNOT give you shingles. Being around someone with shingles cannot give you an HSV-1 fever blister.

Cause of fever blisters? | Go Ask Alice!

Other resources:

Shingles | Home | Herpes Zoster | CDC

WHO | Herpes simplex virus

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My whole face is embarrassing but I don't call out every day because of it

Okay, but if you had a weeping sore on your face that is highly contagious, could cause serious illness or death to a neonate, and YOU WORKED AROUND NEONATES, this might be just a slightly different thing, correct?

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I have not read through this thread-- but if it's herpes you can get a prescription to prevent it from erupting ever again. I have suffered from HSV1 from childhood. I finally sought medical help a few years ago. There is no reason to suffer.

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Adding to my other comment, my insurance covers my Valtrex (Valcycolvir) $20/90 day supply.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I've called off a week for poison ivy before. The oozing, blistering, weeping kind that went through bandages in several hours, left me with scars, and took up large swathes of my arms and torso while the cellulitis burned itself out. When it's gross and your patients are a potential infection risk to your broken skin, you might call off.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Our hospital policy is you can work but you are required to wear a mask your whole shift unless eating or drinking. This is for the whole hospital. Now if it is a whopper and more than one you have to go to employee health and get cleared. And they tell you to get a script for Valtrex from your PCP.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
My whole face is embarrassing but I don't call out every day because of it

LOLOL that's unfortunate.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.
How is this fever blister impeding you from working?

When working with immunocompromised patients, or in NICU or L&D, there is risk to the patients. I've been told to wear a mask. You need to talk to your Infection control folks or see if there is a policy on this.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
When working with immunocompromised patients, or in NICU or L&D, there is risk to the patients. I've been told to wear a mask. You need to talk to your Infection control folks or see if there is a policy on this.

She didn't specify that it was a herpes related until later in the post. She said got it due to sun, so it was possible she could've gotten a sunburn. She also talked about how she was embarrassed by the look of it, nothing about a risk to patients.

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