What is your after-work procedure?

Published

Hi there! I'm a first semester nursing student (finals next week)!:yeah: I had my first patient on contact precautions yesterday for staph and it got me to thinking. I was just wondering what most of you do when you get home from work to prevent transmitting anything to your families?

I Lysol my shoes before I even come in the house and strip my scrubs at the door and toss in the wash. Fellow students say they take a shower as soon as they get home. I don't typically do this as it's a 45 minute ordeal to shower and blow-dry my hair. I do scrub my arms up to the elbows and put on clean clothes/socks everything.

Is this overkill or should I be doing more? I'm considering taking my shoes off in the parking lot and leaving them in my trunk so as not to have them in the house at all. Just thought it would be interesting to see what everyone else does. I do know that if I follow the precautions appropriately and wash my hands the chances of transmitting something aren't that great.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVSICU, Cardiac Cath Lab.

I'm also a first semester student and I leave my shoes in the box in my trunk. I'm not a total germophobe, but I have a three-year-old who plays on the floor. I also walk straight down to the basement and strip. Wash my hands and get dressed. Thats all....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi there! I'm a first semester nursing student (finals next week)!:yeah: I had my first patient on contact precautions yesterday for staph and it got me to thinking. I was just wondering what most of you do when you get home from work to prevent transmitting anything to your families?

I Lysol my shoes before I even come in the house and strip my scrubs at the door and toss in the wash. Fellow students say they take a shower as soon as they get home. I don't typically do this as it's a 45 minute ordeal to shower and blow-dry my hair. I do scrub my arms up to the elbows and put on clean clothes/socks everything.

Is this overkill or should I be doing more? I'm considering taking my shoes off in the parking lot and leaving them in my trunk so as not to have them in the house at all. Just thought it would be interesting to see what everyone else does. I do know that if I follow the precautions appropriately and wash my hands the chances of transmitting something aren't that great.

I have read threads like this before and I always think I must be the most casual / least germaphobic person out there.

Honestly, MRSA and the rest are rampant in the community. But in the community we're not taking the precautions of gowns and gloves and frequent handwashing.

I really don't do tons more than I would if I was coming home from an office or any other workplace unless I have stuff that got visibly soiled (like if someone puked on my crocs I would definitely wash and sanitize them.)

My shoes go near the door, where all the shoes in my houshold go. I don't segregagte them or anything.

I take my uniforms off almost as soon as I get home because I just love getting into jammies and out of my bra after a very long work day. They go in with the regular wash.

I usually do shower after work to ease my aches and pains, but not always. And I only wash my hair every few days (otherwise it gets way too try).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm kind of with NotFlo, the only time I go crazy in the shower is when I help with patients that have maggots and lice, that's only because my minds runs away with me...yes I'm careful about the perscribed percautions when I'm in the hospital, but I don't think I'm at much more risk than when I shake hands with the same folks in church on Sunday.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I change out of my scrubs in the locker room before I leave for home and my shoes go into a plastic case. It is overkill, I think, but it makes me more comfortable.

It also turns out that the strains of MRSA in the community are not as virulent nor as broadly resistant as those found in the hospitals.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I leave my shoes in my garage when I come in. I wash scrubs separately from other clothes. Other that washing hands, that is all I do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Are you a Germophobe? I think your actions are a little extreme. The air we breathe is no good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion