Shoes, uniforms, shower after clinical?

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Does anyone have advice for what to do after clinical? Lysol shoes, wash uniform, shower and shampoo hair...anything else? I heard not to bring shoes in the house to protect pets, family, etc. What is a recommended routine? Thank you!!!

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

I know people who change their shoes in their car.

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Specializes in ER.

You will need a hazmat, decontamination unit prior to entering you car. It's similar to the procedure after leaving an Ebola patient's room. One bad microbe and your entire family will be wiped out.

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You will need a hazmat, decontamination unit prior to entering you car. It's similar to the procedure after leaving an Ebola patient's room. One bad microbe and your entire family will be wiped out.

LOL! Snarky, but funny. 😜

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I change my clothes and wash my face usually. Then I throw my scrubs immediately in the wash.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

It is highly, highly unlikely that you'll carry anything dangerous home on your shoes, unless you were walking through blood or body fluids. The same with your scrubs, though most people prefer to change when they get home. You don't need to launder them seperately or immediately, or use bleach or scalding water. You're far more likely to bring home super bugs from the grocery store than from work.

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As a nursing student and now as an RN, I leave my shoes in the garage, say hi to family (no hugs!), take a shower, and throw my scrubs in the laundry hamper. I never washed my scrubs separately from the rest of the laundry.

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My work shoes stay in the passenger foot-well in the car - I never mastered driving with the clogs on, so I switch to tennis shoes for driving.

As for home... Both me and my fiance will say hi to each other, but no hugs or anything til the scrubs are off and at the minimum hands & face washed. If it's been a particularly messy day then we'll shower asap (s*** happens)

I don't separate scrubs from regular laundry, and I use Arm & Hammer detergent since it's usually on sale and doesn't irritate my skin :D win/win

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Been wearing my work shoes into my house for 30 years and absolutely nobody has died as a result. Of course they are not required to lick them. Shower if I feel grody, don't shower if I feel fine. Hug everybody and their brother. If I'm contaminated at work I do a quick shower there and change scrubs immediately. Why walk around like that all day? I wash my hands before I leave my unit. Scrubs washed with regular clothes at regular temp with regular detergent. Don't use anti-bacterial soap for anything except cleaning the bathroom. You know what has cut done on sickness in my home? The grocery store started offering antibacterial wipes for the shopping cart handles. Reduced the illness rate to almost nil. Think about it. All those adorable little two-legged petri dishes gnawing and slobbering on the handles. Gross!!! Seriously, we are expose to so much more in the community.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Been wearing my work shoes into my house for 30 years and absolutely nobody has died as a result. Of course they are not required to lick them. Shower if I feel grody, don't shower if I feel fine. Hug everybody and their brother. If I'm contaminated at work I do a quick shower there and change scrubs immediately. Why walk around like that all day? I wash my hands before I leave my unit. Scrubs washed with regular clothes at regular temp with regular detergent. Don't use anti-bacterial soap for anything except cleaning the bathroom. You know what has cut done on sickness in my home? The grocery store started offering antibacterial wipes for the shopping cart handles. Reduced the illness rate to almost nil. Think about it. All those adorable little two-legged petri dishes gnawing and slobbering on the handles. Gross!!! Seriously, we are expose to so much more in the community.

Ditto - only closer to 40 years of this.There is no good reason / evidence for any of what OP suggests. Really.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Hi,

I'd be careful since the exposure to all these chemicals are probably far more harmful then the exposure to 'germs".

Keep in mind some exposure to the germs are good for the immune system, and to be honest unless you are bringing home virus like those causing cold, flu, stomach virus etc you will be fine, and even if you do unintentionally infect yourself you will still be fine . It would be hard to infect yourself with a bacterial infection from a patient unless you are purposely exposing yourself or not following recommend infection control practices. Hand washing is the most diligent thing you can do (NOT hand sanitizer).

Try not to be so paranoid. I get it, people worry about their family members, but don't go overboard. Yes wash your clothes and yourself, but no need to lysol everything etc.

I have worked in the medical field for 20 years and have always warn my scrubs or uniform and shoes into my home, not once have I had an illness attributed to my shoes or scrubs.

Annie

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I forgot to add if anyone is exposed to some bad creepy crawlies, it's me. I work with an infectious disease doctor!! :wtf:

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