Soiled Scrubs Mid-Shift

Obviously, you change, right? What are you doing with your soiled scrubs in the mean time? Are you cleaning them at the hospital? Home?

[M/B-RN]

Yikes, I think I would just throw them out. I wouldn't have the stomach to open up the plastic bag and re-smell whatever got on the scrubs in the first place!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I'd like to ask the following questions of some posters on this thread and the other "nurse quirks" thread ... which, interestingly, seems to center on infection control.

1. Have you or any family member or anyone else in your household ever had messy diarrhea or vomiting? Have you never cleaned a trail of bodily fluids from a bedroom to the bathroom, ever?

2. Have you ever had a nosebleed, or accidentally cut yourself with a kitchen knife, or incurred some other bleeding boo-boo?

3. Do you ever kiss another individual who has not brushed teeth/gargled with an antiseptic mouthwash immediately prior? (yes, I'm seriously asking this)

4. Do you ever suddenly get the urge to sneeze, without time to reach for a tissue? If you sneeze into your upper sleeve, do you immediately change shirts?

100,000+ plus years of human evolution ...

Take heart -- your immune system is stronger than you think it is!

[SaoirseRN]

I would rinse out the worst of the mess in the dirty utility room at work, put them in a plastic patient bag and wash them at home in hot water.

I don't bring extra scrubs. If needed I would grab a pair from OR.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Agree with Altra. I'm pretty comfortable with my skin as a barrier and my immune system. For bad smells, I just don't breathe out of my nose until it's gone. And the only two times I've changed at work were times I was literally soaked with vomit and blood (one of each). I usually don't get that messy and a few spots here and there don't seem worth the effort to fuss over on a busy shift.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I carry a complete set of change of clothes, including shoes, after being vomited on badly by a child while working as a home health aide. I figure, it will happen again!

[champagnesupeRNova]

I'd like to ask the following questions of some posters on this thread and the other "nurse quirks" thread ... which, interestingly, seems to center on infection control.

1. Have you or any family member or anyone else in your household ever had messy diarrhea or vomiting? Have you never cleaned a trail of bodily fluids from a bedroom to the bathroom, ever?

2. Have you ever had a nosebleed, or accidentally cut yourself with a kitchen knife, or incurred some other bleeding boo-boo?

3. Do you ever kiss another individual who has not brushed teeth/gargled with an antiseptic mouthwash immediately prior? (yes, I'm seriously asking this)

4. Do you ever suddenly get the urge to sneeze, without time to reach for a tissue? If you sneeze into your upper sleeve, do you immediately change shirts?

100,000+ plus years of human evolution ...

Take heart -- your immune system is stronger than you think it is!

For me, it's not about my immune system - It's just about feeling gross! Guess I never got over "cooties"

Hospital cooties, bleh!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Yikes! I was hoping someone would say they have washing facilities at the hospital! I know that probaby sounds ridiculous, but at the risk of having foreign hazmat in your own personal washer? Yuk, yuk, yuk. I thought maybe there might be a more sterile process than just taking it home and crossing your fingers... Thanks for the replies.

Yes there is....it is called hot water and bleach. I have been a nurse for 34 years. I never wore my shoes inside the house. I washed my uniforms separately.....in really HOT water. If they were really soiled...really covered in blood......I would just throw them away and not even bring them home. I would then run my washer full cycle extra hot with bleach (kills everything) then another full cycle hot and bleach with extra rinse cycle to cleanse the bleach.

I haven't brought anything home yet.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I'd like to ask the following questions of some posters on this thread and the other "nurse quirks" thread ... which, interestingly, seems to center on infection control.

1. Have you or any family member or anyone else in your household ever had messy diarrhea or vomiting? Have you never cleaned a trail of bodily fluids from a bedroom to the bathroom, ever?

2. Have you ever had a nosebleed, or accidentally cut yourself with a kitchen knife, or incurred some other bleeding boo-boo?

3. Do you ever kiss another individual who has not brushed teeth/gargled with an antiseptic mouthwash immediately prior? (yes, I'm seriously asking this)

4. Do you ever suddenly get the urge to sneeze, without time to reach for a tissue? If you sneeze into your upper sleeve, do you immediately change shirts?

100,000+ plus years of human evolution ...

Take heart -- your immune system is stronger than you think it is!

1) Family I'm good with...like my kids.

2) The blood of my family ...not a big deal.

3) I refuse to kiss and tell!

4) I sneeze into my sleeve all the time.....

so I'd caution you about germs before giving you the shirt off my back....

But my shoes and uniforms we a huge issue for me to keep away from my kids.

I also NEVER put them in a shopping cart EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were in their double stroller for a LONG time....my husband used to tease me about having it surgically removed. I carried a toilet eat in a separate diaper bag and I Lysol-ed all public tables until they used utensils to eat and then for a few years....I carried their own utensils and sippy cups.

Thank goodness they are healthy, have amazing immune systems and show no damage from my OCD protecting my kids.......I was even known to wipe of amusement park rides......THey are teenagers now and I've recovered......NOW they are learning to drive ....anyone know how to child proof a car????

[theantichick]

I'm a GN so I haven't worked shifts in the hospital yet outside my clinicals, but I'm one of those people who needs to be prepared, and I did get "slimed" a couple of times in clinicals.

I always had a change of scrubs in the car and always have plastic bags as well. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, but I never thought anything about bringing home soiled clothes properly bagged for cleaning.

For various reasons I ended up buying a new washer and dryer right before my clinicals started, and I picked a set that has a steam/sanitize cycle for both the washer and the dryer. If bleach and hot water and detergent and steam won't kill whatever's on my scrubs, it's going to be a superbug that's going to kill me anyway. I don't think I'd replace a working washer and dryer just because I was going to be working as a nurse, but it was a consideration as to which to get when I did need a new one.

Once I get a hospital job (keep your fingers crossed for me please) I plan to have a duffel of "emergency supplies" in my locker if we have them and in my car if we don't - and it will have at least one spare set of scrubs as well as toiletries and other necessities if I get caught at the hospital in bad weather or such.

[Quit Floating Me, BSN, RN]

I've never really gotten my scrubs "soiled" but once I did get soaked from head to toe from a malfunctioning shower while giving a patient a shower. I just borrowed scrubs from the OR - layed my scrubs out to dry on a chair and when they were dry I threw the OR scrubs in the dirty linen then put mine back on. ;D

[Compassion_x]

I always think about this but I never get myself to actually bring an extra pair of scrubs with me. I suppose you could always find a plastic bag to stick the dirty ones in until you get home. At least that's what I would do.

[PediLove2147, BSN, RN]

Grab a pair from the OR. If your soiled scrubs aren't too bad, put them in a plastic bag and wash when you get home. I mean what you are really getting on them that makes you think your family is at risk by washing them in your personal washer? Throw them away if they're THAT bad.