I was shadowing a nurse yesterday at a facility who happened to be a veteran nurse ( 60 years or older). Well, a pt. fell and was bleeding from her had. I witnessed the fall, so I called for help and made sure the pt. stayed put until helped arrived. The nurse I was shadowing came and started to apply pressure to the pts. head without gloves, the pts. blood was all over the nurses' hand. I felt bad that I didn't do that... but ultimately my health comes first and I'm not touching blood without gloves.
As we were doing wound care she still didn't wear gloves. She said back in her day she has touched so many things with her bear hands that sometimes she doesn't wear them.
I understand that is how she is used to practicing.
I am guilty of tearing the fingers I use to feel for veins ......I just can't get used to feeling the veins and starting IVs with them.....
Sorry but you would not touch me I'd run you out of my room. everyone has their pet peeves that is one of mine do not touch me without gloves and dont pull the finger off. I dont care how many times you have to stick but glove up and do it right or get someone else
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Oh I can see this conversation..nurse did you get the IV statred on pt xyz? No dr he refused...,well I'll go speak with him, Dr. sir the nurse says you will not allow her to start an IV on you we really need to get an iv started so we can get the medicine started for you. PTxyz, dr i never said no to an IV. DR,well the nurse thought you didnt want one. PT. no I told the nurse she had to wear gloves to start the IV and not to tear the finger out. she or anyone else can stick me but i demand gloves intact. Dr. oh ok I'll speak with the nurse and make sure we get the IV started. Oh nurse............ Guys we are all taught patients have rights, none of us know the family dynamics maybe they have hiv, know someone who got hep, mrsa ect. I know there are emegency situations, but in the normal operation of things dont be offended if someone tells you or asks to replace your gloves or get someone else.
This is how I would see the conversation.
Nurse- "Doc, patient in room 4 has not gotten an IV. She is a very hard stick and the only way I can find the vein is taking my glove off to feel. No one else is available. The Patient said they would rather die then have me palpate their vein without a glove because they are worried I will give them something."
Doc-"Did you explain that the area is cleaned after palpation and not touched again except by the sterile needle?"
Nurse-"Yes doc I did, but she refuses to listen and just keeps stating she would rather die."
Doc- "I will go explain to her and see if that helps"
*Doc walks in and explains to the patient that the gloves protect the nurse and not her, that she is at no risk with the finger or glove being off because the area is cleaned.*
Patient-"I don't believe you doc, so let me die if no one can feel my vein without a glove"
Doc"OK I will have the nurse get an AMA form. Best of luck to you"
*Doc and nurse role their eyes and then go tell the nurses station the absurdity of what just happened.*
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
This is how I would see the conversation.
Nurse- "Doc, patient in room 4 has not gotten an IV. She is a very hard stick and the only way I can find the vein is taking my glove off to feel. No one else is available. The Patient said they would rather die then have me palpate their vein without a glove because they are worried I will give them something."
Doc-"Did you explain that the area is cleaned after palpation and not touched again except by the sterile needle?"
Nurse-"Yes doc I did, but she refuses to listen and just keeps stating she would rather die."
Doc- "I will go explain to her and see if that helps"
*Doc walks in and explains to the patient that the gloves protect the nurse and not her, that she is at no risk with the finger or glove being off because the area is cleaned.*
Patient-"I don't believe you doc, so let me die if no one can feel my vein without a glove"
Doc"OK I will have the nurse get an AMA form. Best of luck to you"
and ....Doc continues ...
Would you like us to set you up with Palliative Care now? There's a long waiting list of people who would rather die than have their nurse palpate for a vein without gloves on.
Thanks for all the education here. Since them gloves are there only for your protection I will make sure to tell the nurse lab or anyone else who approaches me with needles in hand that I have hiv, aids, and ebery form of hep. You might wanna glove up in fact I insist and dont worry im an easy stick.
Thanks for all the education here. Since them gloves are there only for your protection I will make sure to tell the nurse lab or anyone else who approaches me with needles in hand that I have hiv, aids, and ebery form of hep. You might wanna glove up in fact I insist and dont worry im an easy stick.
I would have worn gloves. I also do not freak out when a nurse has to use non gloved fingers to find my vein as long as they re-glove prior to the stick.
Thanks for all the education here. Since them gloves are there only for your protection I will make sure to tell the nurse lab or anyone else who approaches me with needles in hand that I have hiv, aids, and ebery form of hep. You might wanna glove up in fact I insist and dont worry im an easy stick.
Your statements are not consistent with anyone who has ever thought about healthcare generally and infection control specifically in a scientific manner. It's more about how you "feel" than the reality of the situation. Which is a shame, because your altered perception of reality means you might overlook more important things like hand hygine. It also in my mind says if you didn't properly learn about infection control, what else did you not learn properly?
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Is this just hospital floors? I would be curious if the hospital floors aren't actually cleaner than those in the grocery store, gas station, etc (of course outside of an obvious body fluid spill).
No any floors. I keep outside shoes outside and inside shoes inside. I am a bit of a germ a phobe especially about bringing things home to my family. I change clothes before I come in and straight to the wash they go.
OFF TOPIC....... My twins when they were little... NEVER not ONCE did they EVER sit in a grocery cart.....I pushed them in a double stroller in front of me and pulled the cart behind behind me after working 3 12 hour nights in a row (I had no family near). I carried my own toilet seat insertion lid thingy and a can of lysol in a big diaper like bag......I know ......Crazy......
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thanks for all the education here. Since them gloves are there only for your protection I will make sure to tell the nurse lab or anyone else who approaches me with needles in hand that I have hiv, aids, and ebery form of hep. You might wanna glove up in fact I insist and dont worry im an easy stick.
I'll be the first to admit I do not know it all. I totally understand the means of transmission of infection I also know you have to have a carrier. Now if you just left a patient who has c-diff but has not been tested yet so you use alcohol rub instead of soap and water you come in my room start an IV ripped the finger out guess what my protection level just decreased and your naked finger is a carrier. Do what you want to you are any way, but like I've said before if you come into my room to draw blood or start an IV give me a shot and do not glove up you'll be leaving quicker than when you came in and I'm sure the director will have some one on one education on proper hand washing in front of patient and proper gloving up. Yea I'd be willing to bet my life on that cause the directors hate getting phone calls and letters about what the staff did not do. So just glove up it is that simple.
I'll be the first to admit I do not know it all. I totally understand the means of transmission of infection I also know you have to have a carrier. Now if you just left a patient who has c-diff but has not been tested yet so you use alcohol rub instead of soap and water you come in my room start an IV ripped the finger out guess what my protection level just decreased and your naked finger is a carrier. Do what you want to you are any way, but like I've said before if you come into my room to draw blood or start an IV give me a shot and do not glove up you'll be leaving quicker than when you came in and I'm sure the director will have some one on one education on proper hand washing in front of patient and proper gloving up. Yea I'd be willing to bet my life on that cause the directors hate getting phone calls and letters about what the staff did not do. So just glove up it is that simple.
And what if someone who didn't wash their hands/use an alcohol rub after being in contact with an infected patient rooted around in the NON-STERILE glove box before the person wearing gloves gives you an injection? Now the glove itself is the carrier.
Your not thinking this through and relying on "what looks good" and gives you warm and fuzzies.
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.....:hug:.
canoehead, BSN, RN
6,909 Posts
You'd be waiting awhile...