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.
I think this is a cultural issue. I have noticed MRSA attitudes are much laxer in the US than my previous jobs in Canada, but that seems to be because it is so prevalent in the community. The easy way to protect patients is still basic hygeine (like don't pick your nose then touch the patient:)). My scrubs are the least likely source of an infectious disease since they never touch my patients. People who freak out about seeing someone in scrubs are just not using their common sense.
I hope this dinner was out on your working place at the cafeteria in the hospital!
If not, I think you have a huge lack of understanding hygiene, infection-controll, lack of knowledge and attitude related to your colleges that fight every day against MRSA as an example.
I can ensure you that this is not about y and your scrub only, this is a global problem, that can kill people. MRSA, that y probably dont have heard about! Do me a fawer and read about it. I have lost relatives cause of that MRSA, I have lost a friend, because of people who doesnt care abaut the rules, regulations, infection-control system. I am talking about not respecting the policy and Hospital rules and regulations. They want the best for the single pt. And if you are dressing like this, even the scrub was clean, its not meant for using as a dress for eating out, unless this is a cafeteria for the hospital.
¨
Hey we nurses here in America have a perfect understanding of what causes MRSA infections... EVIL SPIRITS. Every first year nursing student learn this in "Evil Spirits and how to treat them 101" class. Every one knows if you are colonized with MRSA you are obviously a WITCH and should be burned at the stake post haste... lest you pass your evil spirits to others. And of course thee should wash thee hands only once a year, in May, lest thee wash off thee protective barrier.
A nurse at work said she used to hang her Littmann Cardiology III on the mirror so she wouldn't forget to take it into work with her. Until she made a sudden stop, and the bell came swinging back and knocked her in the eye.
Hello Marie,
Yeowch! I am sorry that she had to experience that and am at the same time, grateful for her that it was only a sudden stop and not something serious enough to embed the bell into her orbital socket!
DO YOU OR ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO SCREEN FOR MRSA? ITS A PROCEDURE THAT TAKES WEEKS! AND OF COURSE Y CANT HAVE A JOB, THEN, Y HAVE TO BE TREATENED!!!
...
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.
Hello Florry,
I can see that you are passionate about infection control and also believe manyh of the posters here are as well, yet, in the US it is sad but, we also have acceptance. We have to now because it was so neglected before.
See, now MRSA is everwhere, in our community, statistics have been sited where athletes are getting it from the places they work out at the gymnasiums and sports facilities and even in the grocery store. Yes, it IS terrible.
It is also terrible that some hospitals here in Chicago will no longer test or screen their employees for infection, (of certain infections, not sure if MRSA is included). The reason is because the hospital cannot afford to give employees time off with treatment nor can hospitals afford to wait, and wait, and wait to hire employees. Also, the hospital would probably have to close while all the staff is off on tx.
Vigilance is necessary and your earnest information is not falling on deaf ears. WE do know now, even if it was too late for our communities. There is not the health and wellness education here in the states. Sadly, as my professor from Europe says, "it would save so much in the long run if even one fourth of the money spent on post treatment would be spent on preventative education".
OK:YOU DONT BELONG IN A SCRUB OR HEALTHCARE JOB IF YOU HAVE MRSA, SORRY!!!
GOOD ATTITUDES, NOT ONLY IN OR, BUT IN EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF WARDS, UNITS, AND ALSO CLINICS/OR ROOMS WHERE PEOLE ARE TOGETHER, AND NO ONE THERE HAS THE MRSA, BUT MAYBE ONE PERSON HAS WORKED WITH PEOPLE/OR BEING TOGETHER WITH THAT D. IS A THREAT. SORRY TO TELL.
DO YOU OR ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO SCREEN FOR MRSA? ITS A PROCEDURE THAT TAKES WEEKS! AND OF COURSE Y CANT HAVE A JOB, THEN, Y HAVE TO BE TREATENED!!! And as an occup. nurse the last years, it was my job to visit the OR and explain proceedures, when taking care of pt. with MRSA in the OR, where everything seemed to be so clean or sterile. The procedure in OR is exstremely important...Well, it seem to me that you know much about it, so tell us the way we are fighting against it!!!!Just for my learning, it is very interesting if y'r hospital do that procedure in a different way.
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.
Alright, i mention how MRSA can be present on a grocery cart, and you're going off on a tangent about employees having MRSA, as if i had said i have it (WHICH I DO NOT, for Pete's sake).
I'm asking this as nicely as possible: please read the words that are actually written if you're replying to my post.
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.
Exellent acting/handling!Y're using y knowlege and judgemeent!
I think this is a cultural issue. I have noticed MRSA attitudes are much laxer in the US than my previous jobs in Canada, but that seems to be because it is so prevalent in the community. The easy way to protect patients is still basic hygeine (like don't pick your nose then touch the patient:)). My scrubs are the least likely source of an infectious disease since they never touch my patients. People who freak out about seeing someone in scrubs are just not using their common sense.
Hello!
This was an interesting pathway: MRSA has to do with a cultural issue. And as I understand; the MRSA as a problem, is larger than in Europe too. (as well in Canada.) When some of you mayby are thinking that I dont believe you can anything about MRSA, I apology; if I have offended you. It seemed to me that you've a lot of knowledge and experience with this issue.
The lack of superior-system in your healt-¨care programe, though, could have done much more with their knowledge to get money to fight against infections that seems to be THAT BIG in Us compared to europe. Sorry to say, but the statistics show that.
Dont think that I attack anyone here personally, even they dont change at home. The attitude and act I have some problems with, are those that steel scrubs, those that use scrub on the E (I defend them if the Hospital dont has the changing facilities..) And ; finally; I apollogy my bad English, mayby I have misunderstand a sentence or a word. I wish I could speek exellent, and probably you wish that, too:clown:
The discussion itself has turned into many ways, someone care about the color, some care about infection(s), and many other issues.
I am of course very interested in infection-control. I believe y when you describe your knowledge you've got. I MISUNDERSTOD THE PERSON WHO WAS WRITING ABOUT MRSA IN FEX GROSERY-STORE, AND THAT MRSA IS EVERYWHERE. IT IS. I WAS THAT HOOCKED UP IN THIS SINGLE DISCUSSION AND HOSPITAL, AND MENT THAT WHE WERE ONLY TALKING ABOUT MRSA IN THE HOSPITAL...PERIOD. sorry, I understand the huge problem in your country. That situation is far away from the MRSA statistics in our country. Therefor I was VERY INTERESTED IN HOW YOU DO YOUR MRSA SCREENING IN US!!
WHEN SOME OF Y ALSO DESCRIBE THAT SOME HOSPITAL WAS SKIPPING THE CONTROL, BECAUSE OF THE COSTS...THAT MAKES ME REALLY SCARED:chair:
Well, what can we; you and I (not personally ment) learn from this?
The Statistics can tell about the difference all over the world related to MRSA, routines against infection, health-care system, generelly speeking; the routine of wearing a scrub/working-habits/uniform and also a cap.
I have certainly forgotten something?Can sombody help me?
I can only speak for the hospitals where I worked in Canada, but we swabbed all new admits for MRSA and patients who were admitted from another hospital were put into a private room until their swabs came back. I don't think that would be practical here in the US since so many people in the community have it, you'd have to isolate half of your patients which we can't do. I still don't see why the emphasis is on screening which is costly and not super effective. The emphasis should still be on basic hygeine practices because that will prevent the spread of most infections regardless of who is colonized and who isn't.
I would be a lot more concerned about wearing the scrubs home. Lord only knows what you carried home with you. When it comes to transferance the Japanese have the right idea. Everything on your shoes you drag into your house. Scubs are no different.
Seeing people wearing scrubs in public is like seeing a nurse in a "white" uniform on her way to work or on her way home from work. Nurses don't have to wear just white anymore!
Nurses wearing white certainly are exposed to the same "nasty" that nurses wearing scrubs are; so what is the difference?
The hospital only supplies scrubs to those who work in environments that are considered more "sterile". :)
:nurse: 
fergus51
6,620 Posts
I think this is a cultural issue. I have noticed MRSA attitudes are much laxer in the US than my previous jobs in Canada, but that seems to be because it is so prevalent in the community. The easy way to protect patients is still basic hygeine (like don't pick your nose then touch the patient:)). My scrubs are the least likely source of an infectious disease since they never touch my patients. People who freak out about seeing someone in scrubs are just not using their common sense.