Scabbies

[Zhanna D'ark]

As a nurse assistant, do I have the right to refuse care to a patient assumed to have scabbies in a rehabilitation center for elderly people?

[dscrn]

off hand, I would say no.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

No you do not have that right! We don't ever get to pick and choose who we take care of. (There has been a lot of people thru the years that NO ONE would have cared for if we could do that).

[thinkertdm]

Only if you can spell it correctly. Well, not really. But spelling scientific terms correctly would be a good idea.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

Afraid not. You can't punish a patient for having a medical condition you do not like. That is why we have PPE.

[DogWmn]

Actually you do, no one can force you to do anything but not if you want to keep your job. If you feel strongly enough - quit. Infectious diseases or parasites is a part of nursing.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I've cared for people with AIDS, C.diff., MRSA, VRE, and an alphabet soup full of other highly dangerous and communicable diseases. It's part of the job, and it's part of the risk you take when you sign on to work in the healthcare field. Deal with it, or find something else to do..........no one gets to pick and choose his/her patients.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

No, you don't.

What makes that particular situation worse than any other communicable infection (ie, C diff, MRSA, VRE, pneumonia, influenza, etc)? If it were ok to refuse to care for that patient, when and where would the line be drawn for everyone else? What if you are allowed to refuse, so then everybody else refuses to, as well (assuming everyone you work with is selfish)?

The patient doesn't like having it, any more than you like risking getting it. But caring for them is your job.

Lastly, if they are *thought* to have scabies, why haven't they been treated? It's not a chronic condition, and should be treated/taken care of.

[cicatrixx15]

Only if you can spell it correctly. Well, not really. But spelling scientific terms correctly would be a good idea.

Hahaha! Yeah, I clicked on this link because I was like "what are scabbies?"

[sharpeimom]

i've cared for people with aids, c.diff., mrsa, vre, and an alphabet soup full of other highly dangerous and communicable diseases. it's part of the job, and it's part of the risk you take when you sign on to work in the healthcare field. deal with it, or find something else to do..........no one gets to pick and choose his/her patients.

i totally agree with this.

i have cared for people with scabies, lice, crabs, and a time or two, despite all precautions and good intentions, have gone home with tiny livestock. was treated and they met an untimely end.

i think if i were given the choice between caring for someone with a bad cold or pneumonia or scabies, i'd take the scabies, hands down, because that malady wouldn't make me barf, cough, sneeze etc. and is easily treated.

please keep in mind that your patient isn't any happier to have scabies (or whatever) than you would be if you were the patient. compassion is always always a primary part of our job.

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Why isn't she treated and then she won't have tiny livestock.

[sharpeimom]

take this discussion a step further. instead of thinking "gross!" or "yuck!" or "omg! what if i get it too?" try thinking of this instead. realize just what that unfortunate elderly person has been through in her lifetime simply by virtue of having that long, and what her living conditions must have been before.

now think of your grandma and just try to imagine how you'd feel if that patient were your grandma instead. how would you want the staff to treat her and act around her?

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw: