A patient or a family member asked you if you washed your hands?
I was reading Redbook magazine and there was this little section saying how you can prevent medical errors and infections (this is from a patients point of view) by asking your nurse or doctor if they washed their hands and by questioning the meds and treatments in case they were unecessary.
While I do believe in asking about the meds you are recieving and the treatments ( I believe in being an advocate for yourself, but not playing doctor to yourself), the first thing I learned in Nursing school was handwashing. I don't touch a patient without washing my hands if I have been with another patient or touching handling something like blood or even medications. It's like asking me if I was doing something very basic in my job that is a given. But I can understand where the patient is coming from I guess.
Hospitals are a public health hazard. They are deadly! 100,000 people die (and a lot more become ill, sometimes long-term) every year from infections they pick up in US hospitals. A similar proportion anywhere in the industrialised (IOW, civilised, modern) world. This seems to be acceptable, like an inevitable fact of life.
If the same number of people died from bugs they picked up at university, or from hotels, or supermarkets or wherever - we would insist that these places be closed down and cleaned up. But not hospitals.....
I make a point of washing my hands in front of the patient, so they can see me washing my hands. If a patient asks "Did you wash your hands" after watching me wash my hands, then yes, I would be insulted.
I've known Dr's to be insulted when asked or confronted. They are the worst when it comes to a healthcare professional washing their hands. I've seen it too many times.
Not at all, I believe the best way to get better is being a total advocate for themselves. Being an advocate for oneself shows me that they are motivated to get better. Always a plus! I usually explain to my patients the 10,000 things that I am doing for them anywayz!
"Sir, This suppository is going where the sun don't shine to help you poop! Any questions?" LOL!
I love what I do! Question me! Ask me why I am doing what I am doing!
It's tough love and I love it!
Visa Versa explain to me why you believe that this lasix that is scheduled at HS is not right for you (my patient)!
There are signs in the hospital rooms, procedure rooms, dr offices and reception areas, etc TELLING patients to ask anybody who walks in the room if they have washed their hands.
Patients have the right to protect themselves from poor-compliance with infection control.
Nope, not at all, they may have not seen you do it. At my facility we have up signs for the patient's to tell them to ask if their caretakers hands have been washed.
We have signs where I work that say, "It's okay to ask me if I've washed my hands." A little softer wording than the one above, which sounds almost confrontational. "Ask me. Go ahead. Ask me. I dare ya!"
I have explained to patients that the foam is more effective at killing germs than soap and water in many instances. Some seemed surprised, but they all appeared to accept the information.
First, I want a button that says, "Ask me if I've washed my hands. Ask me. Go ahead. Ask me. I dare ya!"
Second, we actually had a Press Gainey comment that included that they had been told that the foam works better, but they didn't care, they want the nurse to wash their hands. They'd probably refuse an IV from someone with a finger pulled out of their glove too...
first, i want a button that says, "ask me if i've washed my hands. ask me. go ahead. ask me. i dare ya!"
second, we actually had a press gainey comment that included that they had been told that the foam works better, but they didn't care, they want the nurse to wash their hands. they'd probably refuse an iv from someone with a finger pulled out of their glove too...
:yeah:
i want one!!! i don't work anymore, but it would be fun to see if people even had a clue as to what it meant !! be bopping (yeah, ok i don't 'bop') through the produce section (which is a germ buffet) with a button on with that - oh, that would be fun...
(what can i say, i'm easily amused )
as far as the finger out of the glove, they'd be s-o-l with me on that one...no finger- no iv
Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
LoL! I went to SubWay last night and the customer was like, "please change your gloves and wash your hands," (in the rudest tone ever!) - sorry I just had to say that. I just imagined that lady as my patient. Unlike subway employees I do wash my hands and change my gloves between patients, but I still wouldnt be offended. Hopefully the patient would be a little nicer than that lady though.
They'd probably refuse an IV from someone with a finger pulled out of their glove too...
CapeCodMermaid, RN
6,092 Posts
I've asked nurses and doctors before they touch me if they've washed their hands. What's to ne insulted about????