He wasn't my patient but I was helping someone out. I rushed in to empty his foley bag and didn't gown up (did not see the sign). I used gloves though. I don't think anything splashed on me, but now I'm super paranoid about catching it.
I don't know where this patient's MRSA is contained. I don't think I'll ever forget to gown up again.
I also don't get a chance to come home and take a shower before my kids rush up and hug me. The thought of getting them sick is terrifying!!!
Nope, never! And I work at one of the top 5 hospitals in the country...
Wow. I think our ID doc would crap his pants if we tried to push for that! Personally, I don't think there should ever be shared rooms in ICU, isolation or not, but that would be in perfect world hospital.
To the original poster - you must be a new nurse! In my opinion more than half the people walking around have MRSA. You might already. If they swabbed my nose I might have it. Does that mean I am sick? No! It is not YOU that the gown and gloves are protecting. It is the other patients that have suppressed immune systems, at high risk for pneumonia, have open wounds etc.... opportunity for the bugs to really get inside people's open wounds or in their lungs and cause major issues. Yes use hand gel or wash hands and take a shower when you get home. But don't worry about getting "sick" from that patient.
JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN
443 Posts