Using saftey goggles/shields (body fluid exposure)

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 27, 2005

I never have understood how regular eye glasses serve as eye protection according to policies.

Just because a pt.'s history doesn't SAY they have Disease X, Y, Z doesn't mean they don't have it. You have to assume everyone is contagious.

nurse_1098 · May 27, 2005

I never have understood how regular eye glasses serve as eye protection according to policies.
Just because a pt.'s history doesn't SAY they have Disease X, Y, Z doesn't mean they don't have it. You have to assume everyone is contagious.

Yes, you should assume that everyone is contagious. I do wonder, however, just how many actually do make a point of wearing protective eyewear. In the institution that I work it is a rare occurance to see protective eyewear used, I may well be the 'poster-child' that get people using it here.

markjrn · May 27, 2005

do you trust your eyeglasses to protect you? do you wear no eye protection around body fluids?
i have been a wearer of prescription eyeglasses for many years now - actually from way back before i started my nursing career. i have come to depend on my glasses to be the barrier - knowing that protective goggles and splash sheilds existed, but not venturing to use them at work, in hospital.
today i have a new outlook on that as i did get body fluid exposure when blood splashed upwards from (i'm not sure which - the iv catheter or the tourniquet) when an iv start was attempted that i was assisting with. the blood came up and did actually leave splash marks on my glasses and on the skin very near my eye, i felt too that moisture did go in my eye ... i hope i'm wrong.
fortunately the patient is extremely low risk so i haven't much to fear, however, i am being cautious and have reported it and am going through the bloodwork and protected sex with hubby now. the paperwork is a big factor too with the incident so.... my advice from this day forward...
wear eye protection where you may get sprayed with body fluid!

i work in the icu, and it is now mandatory for us to wear protective eyewear, whether we have glasses or not, anytime we enter the pt room. if we go in there to look at a pump/monitor, etc, or to speak to family, it doesn't matter, we have to wear the glasses.

Mulan · May 27, 2005

I've never seen anyone wear eye protection to start an IV. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing anyone wear it for any reason. (med-surg)

Mulan · May 27, 2005

I work in the ICU, and it is now mandatory for us to wear protective eyewear, whether we have glasses or not, ANYTIME we enter the pt room. If we go in there to look at a pump/monitor, etc, or to speak to family, it doesn't matter, we have to wear the glasses.

Is it mandatory on all the floors or just your unit? Did something happen to prompt this?

Mulan · May 27, 2005

Markjrn,I just noticed you're in Canada. I haven't heard of that here in the states anywhere.

markjrn · May 27, 2005

Markjrn,I just noticed you're in Canada. I haven't heard of that here in the states anywhere.

That doesn't surprise me. I never saw it anywhere when I was living in the US, and it isn't standard practice in Canada either, to my knowledge. We all hate it! lol

grimmy, RN · May 28, 2005

in the or, when scrubbed, we all wear eye protection as a matter of policy, even for the most innocuous, low-invasive procedure. i think that any practitioner should use full (that is, wrap-around) eye protection when involved in any invasive procedure. that includes iv starts, wound packing, etc. i perch mine on my head (with chums) when not in use.

lsyorke, RN · May 28, 2005

I work in the ICU, and it is now mandatory for us to wear protective eyewear, whether we have glasses or not, ANYTIME we enter the pt room. If we go in there to look at a pump/monitor, etc, or to speak to family, it doesn't matter, we have to wear the glasses.

Is it me or is this overkill?? I would hate to be a family member who is just talking to a nurse and having to do it through protective eyewear. I think we all know the high risk situations and "dress" accordingly.

markjrn · May 28, 2005

Is it me or is this overkill?? I would hate to be a family member who is just talking to a nurse and having to do it through protective eyewear. I think we all know the high risk situations and "dress" accordingly.

Yeah, it seems like overkill, but it's not my call. It's mandatory. No choice, other than to quit, and it's certainly not worth quitting over.

nurse_1098 · May 28, 2005

I work in the ICU, and it is now mandatory for us to wear protective eyewear, ...ANYTIME we enter the pt room.

I too see that as 'overkill' ... so, what led to this? Despite the incident in my workplace (the other day) there is no sudden change to enforce eye protection, though, I expect it will be a topic at the next ward meeting.