Worried sick that I may have caught MRSA?

Nurses General Nursing

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I love nursing but I'm a bit OCD and a germaphobic. While at work tonight, I was visiting one of my favorite clients and so a bump on his arm that was a little open but barely. I asked what was that and he rubbed his hand acrossed it and said he forgot. When I got ready to leave He then told me his remote wasn't working. I took the remote with bare hands and fixed it. Then I saw cream on his chest and it was Mupirocin so I was like omg he has MRSA and the. Soon as I got ready to leave he told me he had MRSA. They was no sign on his door. I checked his records and sure enough he was confirmed to have it in the 17th. Now I'm so nervous and afraid. What do I do?

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I love nursing but I'm a bit OCD and a germaphobic. While at work tonight, I was visiting one of my favorite clients and so a bump on his arm that was a little open but barely. I asked what was that and he rubbed his hand acrossed it and said he forgot. When I got ready to leave He then told me his remote wasn't working. I took the remote with bare hands and fixed it. Then I saw cream on his chest and it was Mupirocin so I was like omg he has MRSA and the. Soon as I got ready to leave he told me he had MRSA. They was no sign on his door. I checked his records and sure enough he was confirmed to have it in the 17th. Now I'm so nervous and afraid. What do I do?

These kinds of posts really worry me on so many levels. Starting with the entirely off base assumption that the patient is being treated for cutaneous MRSA with topical medication and ending with "checking the record" on a patient you weren't directly involved in the care of.

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Haaaa...MRSA. I'd more concerned with getting c-diff!

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Has this happened to you?

All the freakin' time. You come back the next day, or back from lunch, and your patient is in iso for TB, c. diff., a variety of flu strains, MRSE, CRE, you name it. I always thought my ED buddies should be in hazmat suits.

If my patient is coughing, I am putting on a mask.

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These kinds of posts really worry me on so many levels. Starting with the entirely off base assumption that the patient is being treated for cutaneous MRSA with topical medication and ending with "checking the record" on a patient you weren't directly involved in the care of.

I was because I was doing a double and working that unit. Didn't think I had to include every single detail. I noticed ppl on this site pick every single word that someone says and multiply it.

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Well I recently cared for an intubated TB patient and the infectious disease doctor entered the room completely gowned up and N95 in place.

I'm just curious. I hadn't heard that before is all.

Well. If I'm caring for a known tb patient, I'm going to garb up too and wear my n95.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

There's more "out there" than MRSA to worry about. My (then) 6 year old daughter came up positive for C-Diff a year or so ago...no recent hospitalizations or antibiotics for any of us in the house. No clue where she may have picked it up...but according to our doctor it's "out there" as well.

Wash your hands & say your prayers because germs & Jesus are everywhere. Where'd that come from?

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There's more "out there" than MRSA to worry about. My (then) 6 year old daughter came up positive for C-Diff a year or so ago...no recent hospitalizations or antibiotics for any of us in the house. No clue where she may have picked it up...but according to our doctor it's "out there" as well.

Wash your hands & say your prayers because germs & Jesus are everywhere. Where'd that come from?

Thx! It's just the fact of knowing he had it and then he touched the remote and I was helping him find things in his room but you're absolutely right

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I love nursing but I'm a bit OCD and a germaphobic. While at work tonight, I was visiting one of my favorite clients and so a bump on his arm that was a little open but barely. I asked what was that and he rubbed his hand acrossed it and said he forgot. When I got ready to leave He then told me his remote wasn't working. I took the remote with bare hands and fixed it. Then I saw cream on his chest and it was Mupirocin so I was like omg he has MRSA and the. Soon as I got ready to leave he told me he had MRSA. They was no sign on his door. I checked his records and sure enough he was confirmed to have it in the 17th. Now I'm so nervous and afraid. What do I do?

Wow, I am so sorry to hear this. Frankly I'd draw up your last will and testament, and prepare your family.

Alternatively, you could just wash your hands. LOL ;-)

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Well. If I'm caring for a known tb patient, I'm going to garb up too and wear my n95.

Same here, comparing it to the intensivist who stepped in the room without the mask, so was curious about the long time period of exposure thing.

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I understand your worry... but I'm more worried touching a shopping cart at Walmart.

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Nothing like working in healthcare to break me of my nail-biting/face touching habit. Seriously.

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Umm...you're good. If it gets worse...see a doc lol

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