Wearing scrubs in public...

[HappyNurse2005]

I was reading the paper this morning, and this topic was mentioned in teh "Ask Marilyn" column. The question and answer was this

"A question has been bothering me since I moved to a city that is home to some of the finest hospitals in the world. When I use public transportation, I see people wearing scrub suits to work. Is this acceptable? I had thought employees were supposed to change into scrubs provided at the hospital in order to leave outside germs at the door"-

and her answer

"You're right. I've noticed the same phenomenon in other cities, too. If those people are hospital employees they are endangering patients and should be reported to hospital authorities. Another growing problem is scrubs being stolen and word in other places, such as the subway, to convey an impression of respectability. Anyone seen wearing scrubs outside an appropriate environment should be regarded with caution"

What do you think?

WHen i was a student, so recently, we had to wear our scrubs into the hospital, we were told not to change at the hospital. Here I saw the OB nurses and OR nurses were the only ones who had uniforms provided to them to change into at the hospital.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I have to tell Y that is absolutely many ways to avoid MRSA!!!!One of them has to be connected to your working habits.

There are MENY OTHER, TOO. I AM TALKING AT PREVENTION AND TREATMENT. WHERE DO Y HAVE YOUR RESEARCG SOURSES FROM?

In Europe we have a continuating research going on on how to handle MRSA, ISOLATION, HOW TO SANATE, AND HOW TO HEAL SOMBODY WHO HAS GOT MRSA. MANY DIES FROM THAT DESCIES, BUT MANY SURVIVE, TOO!!!!

this is actually what I am working with at this moment; screening, preeventing and healing, so together with the Cheif of Infection Medicine, we are saving lives.

The problem, Florry, is not usually the hospital personnel carrying MRSA to the general public. The major problem in the USA is with the common public that refuses to observe precautions.

In the facilities, we are gowning and gloving, washing hands repeatedly, limiting the prescribing of high level ABX to ID professionals, using proper sanitation precautions.

Unfortunately, when those MRSA patients leave the hospital (and frequently those in the hospital) and refuse to observe appropriate precautions when in public. And yes, these are people that are well educated as to the risks and issues, and yet continue to refuse to obey MRSA precautions.

Much like the many that will not practice "safer" sex, they continue to live any which way they choose without regard to others.

It is also those that run to the MD for every little sniffle and insist on ABX, even though it is not called for. The ones that lie about their symptoms, so that they get ABX.

It is the ones that rip the "Contact Precautions" sign off the door because they don't want to be embarassed about being in Iso (had one of those this week) and don't want to "bother" their family with them gowning up.

Yes, it is impossible to avoid MRSA in the USA unless, you gown and mask to buy your groceries, eat dinner, go about in public, etc. because the MRSA infected individuals are everywhere, coughing, touching, etc. without a care for anyone else.

No , we should not wear hospital attire in public...but even if we all avoided wearing scrubs in public, the risk out there is still high. And as we gown, glove and wash, when in contact with MRSA, and the general public does not, we are quite possibly "cleaner" than they are.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

.

[Graciegirlienurse]

Many many many healthcare workers are carriers of MRSA, at least in the US it is a bug that is rampant in the community, as well as in the hospital.

At my hospital (a large teaching institution) if a healthcare provider has an outbreak of mrsa, they can work as long as the wound is not actively draining.

As far as I know it is pretty easy to screen for MRSA colonization, a simple nasal swab...or you can culture the big nasty wound:rolleyes:

really, it is everywhere, and on everything, the best thing to do to prevent the spread is still handwashing.

[mtnmom]

I was reading the paper this morning, and this topic was mentioned in teh "Ask Marilyn" column.

I'm sorry - I just ran into this thread and am committing the terrible mistake on commenting without reading all the replies.

If you will indulge me, however, I have always been amazed at (and highly annoyed by) this "Ask Marilyn" chick. Who in the h@ll does she think that she is??? I know she supposedly has the worlds highest IQ or something like that -but gimme a break!!! The woman purports to know everything about everything!!!! Hardly fit even for birdcage liner.

just had to offer my 2 cents. She chaps my @ss!

[florry]

The problem, Florry, is not usually the hospital personnel carrying MRSA to the general public. The major problem in the USA is with the common public that refuses to observe precautions.

In the facilities, we are gowning and gloving, washing hands repeatedly, limiting the prescribing of high level ABX to ID professionals, using proper sanitation precautions.

Unfortunately, when those MRSA patients leave the hospital (and frequently those in the hospital) and refuse to observe appropriate precautions when in public. And yes, these are people that are well educated as to the risks and issues, and yet continue to refuse to obey MRSA precautions.

Much like the many that will not practice "safer" sex, they continue to live any which way they choose without regard to others.

It is also those that run to the MD for every little sniffle and insist on ABX, even though it is not called for. The ones that lie about their symptoms, so that they get ABX.

It is the ones that rip the "Contact Precautions" sign off the door because they don't want to be embarassed about being in Iso (had one of those this week) and don't want to "bother" their family with them gowning up.

Yes, it is impossible to avoid MRSA in the USA unless, you gown and mask to buy your groceries, eat dinner, go about in public, etc. because the MRSA infected individuals are everywhere, coughing, touching, etc. without a care for anyone else.

No , we should not wear hospital scubs in public...but even if we all avoided wearing scrubs in public, the risk out there is still high. And as we gown, glove and wash, when in contact with MRSA, and the general public does not, we are quite possibly "cleaner" than they are.

The hospital area is a huge place for any deciases, and we in Norway send them home as soon as possible, be/c the risk of transmission infections...

Yes, I can absolutely see your health-care-problems in US, despite: The Descussion HERE IS about HEALTH CARE PROF. wearing scrubs in public, will confirm my ideeas that that has to do with many things: fex. the stupid idea, using hospital scrubs in publics, as I have said. and I am thinking thinking globally:

How can WE TOGETHER FIGHT MRSA AS HEALTh PROFF! ITS METHODS FOR SCREENING WHEN WORKING IN A HOSPITAL, YES. WE ARE USUALLY WORKING WITH PUBLIC PEOPLE (THATS the reason they'r COOMMING FOR ,A DECIASE). WE ARE DICUSSION WHAT WE AS A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL CAN DO, AND WHAT ATTITUDE WE HAVE! I AM TOTALLY AVERE OF MRSA-PROBLEM IN US-COMMOM PUBLIC, PEOPLE THAT DONT CARE, PEOPLE THAT DONT KNOW, CANT AFFORT ETC. TO GET TREATMENT.

Also many, too many are undiagnosed! Everybody can contain the MRSA, beeing healthy, seeming so, without knowing, and transfer it to other innosent people!

THEREFOR: IN A HOSPITALSETTING: Y'VE TO BE ABSOLUTELY LOJAL TO THE SYSTEM WE ARE WORKING UNDER!

I CAN ABBSOLUTELY SEE THE US PROBLEM; 200 000 MILL.( OR MOREO?)ITS

IMPOSSIBLE OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL, AS YOU SAID, TO 100 % OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL TO GET RID OF MRSA. I AGREE WITH THAT, AND GIVE Y MY SUPPORT HOW WHE CAN HANDELING THAT PROPLEM!!!!! YOU HAVE A MELTING POT WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD,- WITCH IS A HUGE PROPLEM TO YOUR COUNTRY, COMPERED TO MY COUNTRY, WITH 4.5 MILL. Unified mostly).

I hope Y understand me, but we are now dicussion health-care professonells, and my intention was not to bring in MRSA discussion for common people. As I have read thrue the sides here, I am humble, and has gotten a picture of your health-care system. I must say that I'm very lucky living under this conditions. and are sorry to hear about your health - care system witch couldd be "healtthyer". If you are comming to norway, staying for 3 mnds, get sick, every tests, hospitalcare in total is free....!!!

[southern_rn_brat]

DO YOU OR ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO SCREEN FOR MRSA? ITS A PROCEDURE THAT TAKES WEEKS!

If some employee has MRSA THEY MUST WAIT UNTIL ITS TREATENED, UNLESS THEY CAN WORK. WE ARE DEFENDING OUR PT, RELATIVES AND EMPLOYEES, BY DOING THAT.

While I admit that getting treatened for an infection is important....I am just unsure of what it is you do in your country to screen for mrsa. See....over here...we just do a culture. Takes about, oh..say....48 hours?

but be sure to get treatened if ya got it!

[southern_rn_brat]

I hope Y'r understanding, as a professional nurse, and act like that! This note was not done to offend you, but open your eyes, if your notes waseded irony....Y'e the answer.

If Y'r asking me out for dancing tomorrow, .....take a look of our distance.... If Y promice to use y'r privat wardrobe, the person you might ask for a dance, this will give you respect for what you are as a privat person.

A professional nurse never dance at the work or out in a scrub. Take care of youreselves and I wish you good luck and a happy new year as a professional, discent nurse.

hey now, I never said I was discent:clown:

will somebody please tell me "wendy, get off this thread!"

[Q.]

My question is, if people are concerned about the nursing staff wearing scrubs IN to the hospital, what about the gazillion visitors who come and go, bringing germs in, not washing hands and touching patients?

[southern_rn_brat]

My question is, if people are concerned about the nursing staff wearing scrubs IN to the hospital, what about the gazillion visitors who come and go, bringing germs in, not washing hands and touching patients?

God forbid I run into any of them at a restaurant after work too! Talk about a health hazard we would all be

(wendy, get off this thread!)

[MelvaL]

Actually ... good infection control technique calls for the OR staff to remove their caps and booties and donning a lab coat when they leave the OR suite. Also, no masks hanging around their necks. That does include physicians who do, actually, carry microorganisms as well as the rest of us. Best to you all!!

[nursemelani]

Wow. People sure get worked up about this topic. I do pediatric Home Health. One patient for 8 hours, in my cartoon print scrubs. And yes, I stop at the supermarket on my way home. I'm sure I have less germs on my scrubs then a daycare provider or kindergarten teacher would have on their clothing.

[prmenrs, RN]

Florry--I think you misunderstood my post.

I disagree w/ the notion that wearing scrubs in public is a health risk. I believe that if, as health care workers, we wash our hands before and after pt contact and @ the beginning and end of our shift, maintain body substance isolation we are doing what we can (and maybe more) to avoid transmitting MRSA (any other microbes/viruses, etc.) to ourselves, co-workers, our patients and families, and anyone else w/whom we come in contact.

Carrying hand sanitizer is another way of avoiding cross-contamination.

I believe that unsoiled clothing, including scrubs, does not carry additional risk. I am a strong believer in hands as being the main culprit in passing any infectious organism from person to person.

My 15 y/o nephew got an MRSA abscess. He has not been near a hospital, his parents don't work in hospitals, and, no, I hadn't been anywhere near him when he got it. (He lives 2500 miles away from me.)

It is in the communities. It didn't get there on clothing.

p.s. A [moderator] reminder to be respectful to other posters. Thanks.