Taking care of patient with C.Diff?

Published

I just started Med-Surg I and my first clinical day for the semester is tomorrow. I went today to pick out a patient and asked the young nurse at the desk for any suggestions. She suggested an elderly guy that is on isolation and has contact precautions because of a recent diagnosis of C.Diff. I went ahead and accepted it because she said he was really nice and figuring it would give me a good learning experience. Thing is that I never performed any precaution measures besides the standard precautions.

Now after delving in a little more to how dangerous C.Diff actually can be, I'm scared. There's going to be a lot of gowning, gloving, masking, and hand washing going on. What about my shoes? What about everything else in the room? This is only my second semester in clinicals. I have enough health problems as it is; all I need is C.Diff. Geez, what did I get myself into? :uhoh21: I know it comes with the territory, but I'm scared being a baby student nurse. I should've never said "yes."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I bet you'll do fine! C-diff isn't going to contaminate your shoes unless you walk in it. This pt probably at the most - is incontinent - so the stool will stay on the bed. Gowns, gloves will keep you covered.

Always remember to wash your hands after caring for c-dif pt because the hand sanitizer won't kill c-dif.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Another question: so when I wash my hands, I know I have to wash them before I leave the room? Now just how do I do that - the patient bathroom?! Or do I take off all my stuff, get a napkin, open the door, throw the napkin away, close the door, alcohol rub and them pretty much race to the hall sink? My mom says she sometimes uses the patient bathroom (she's a phlebotomist) with C.Diff patients, but IDK.

Oh yea, the nurse said something about a rectal tube.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

look at it as a real good learning experience. Almost a trial by fire. Cant be scared of a little superbug like that. Also try to group your cares so you dont have to get dressed up and down so often. That was my biggest mistake when a newbie. I would be in there all the time and it got old getting a new gown each time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.
I bet you'll do fine! C-diff isn't going to contaminate your shoes unless you walk in it. This pt probably at the most - is incontinent - so the stool will stay on the bed. Gowns, gloves will keep you covered.

Always remember to wash your hands after caring for c-dif pt because the hand sanitizer won't kill c-dif.

Yeah, that.

I work with C. dif. patients every night I work. Usually 3-4. We have a contact precaution cart outside of each patient's room with gown, gloves, and bleach wipes. I don't use a stethoscope as a tech, but when I'm working with a C. dif patient as a student, I leave all my equipment outside the room.

We also have trash bags hanging just inside the door so we can dispose of our gowns, and gloves. I take the gown and gloves off as I'm walking out making sure to hold the gown away from my body. I try to open the door with my foot and head straight to the sink at the nurses' station to wash my hands. Since I've had gloves on when touching the patient I'm not as worried about contaminating anything in between. I just make sure not to touch anything with my bare hands. If I had to take any equipment into the patient's room, I put on another pair of gloves from the isolation cart and wipe everything down with the bleach wipes and then go wash up.

I'm not as worried about my shoes. There was ONE time that I had a C. dif patient on GoLightly and she was pretty much a total care patient. She was a LOT of work and I found pools of liquid on the floor more than once or twice that night. Now, THAT night I worried about my shoes and ended up finding some shoe covers. Otherwise, I just wipe the bottoms of my shoes at the end of my shift before going home. Yeah, that might be a little anal but it makes ME feel better at least.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU/ER.

Alcohol does not kill C-diff, you need to use soap and water. It's something that you have to deal with. Take your gown and your gloves off at the door. Don't take them out to the hall to contaminate anything. Make sure you then go to the nearest sink and wash your hands with soap and water. Like the person said prior, don't bring your stethoscope in the room, use one of the throw away ones.

It's a hazard to the trade so to speak. Get used to it as it is very common. Bleach wipes are also your friend.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I made it through the day. Hopefully, I don't have something that I don't realize yet. I had gas earlier and had to use the restroom 2x today (TIM, I know) and I got paranoid. I'm ok right now with no cramps or anything else like that. Better stay like that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

at my hospital, we're having a big debate over WHERE you discard your disposable gowns after taking care of a C. Diff, MRSA, TB or ESBL patient...what do other people do...we just throw our C. Diff disposable gowns in the regular trash. Now they're telling us they were supposed to be in biohazard all this time!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I made it through the day. Hopefully, I don't have something that I don't realize yet. I had gas earlier and had to use the restroom 2x today (TIM, I know) and I got paranoid. I'm ok right now with no cramps or anything else like that. Better stay like that!

Some times being a little paranoid is a good thing when it comes to c-diff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It depends on the floor really. As above posters have mentioned, there's an isolation cart outside the room with all the goodies you need on it. As to equipment, there is always dedicated stethoscope and dynamap in the patients room that just stays there... if you do have to bring in your own equipment or borrow a dynamap or glucometer or whatever, there are the hardcore bleach wipes that you wipe the equipment down with before you leave the area. Don't worry about your shoes, if there is need for shoe or head covers, those would be provided on the isolation cart outside the patient's door.

As to handwashing, all of the floors I've been on have a sink near the door to the patient's room, this is a separate sink from the one in the patient bathroom. Use paper towels to turn the faucets on and off. And many facilities have soiled linen containers in the patient rooms to toss your gown into when you remove it.

You will be working with lots of patients in isolation for various reasons, so jump right in there, you'll be a pro in no time!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You'll be fine.Wash,wash,wash.A rectal tube is sometimes used for extreme diarrhea.It is a tube that is inserted in the rectum and is connected to a collection bag.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Long-term/Geriatrics, Home Health.

We use biohazard containers for trash and linen at the facility I work at. They are inside the room so they can be disposed of properly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion