General Chat

MRSA AND NURSES UNIFORMS?

Correct me if Im wrong please NURSES!. But when I am going to hospital I have quite a few outpatients appointments! But I see quite a few Nurses going to work on same bus allready in uniform!
They should be proud to wear it great job? But surely they are carrying GERMS in on their uniforms from outside?

Dave Bx

I agree, nurses shouldn't wear their uniforms to work, I work in a school kitchen and I am not allowed to put my uniform on until I arrive at work.
Tallulah

Hi Dave
But so do visitors.
I don't like to see health care workers out of work in uniform but then again what about the district nurses.
If covered in a full length coat I don't see there is an issue.
Joan

Yes Joan but they dont have coat on just uniform! and agree about kitchen staff in school my daughter is kitchen supervisor, but neither her or her staff are allowed to travel in uniform! also visitors not having direct contact with patients i.e injections and changing dressings which can pass MRSA on
Dx

Dave apparently a lot of hospitals now have no changing areas, so the only option is to travel in uniform. My sister told me this and she works in one as a radiologist. I also work in a school kitchen and we are not allowed to wear them to and from work either.

Sally, if that is the reason no changing areas? That may be the problem germs carried in?
Davex

Hi all.
As a nurse I see it from both sides.
The main reason we don't change at work is because we have no where to change. All staff changing/cloakrooms have been turned over the years to become extra bed spaces or offices and we have no provision for laundering uniforms either. No showers either.
We are advised to cover up when off duty and a strict policy on this is adhered to. If we are seen locally in the supermarket and the staff can see our langyards identifying we are from the local hosp, the Director of Nursing is contacted.
From a H & S point of view provided the uniform is not washed below 60 degree water temp and not washed in the the normal family wash we are assured that this is OK. We can claim tax relief on laundry costs.

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with your comments just wanted to give the other side. Personally I preferred it when we had laundry and changing room facilities.

Di

Thanks Di comments appreciated
Dx

Maz that may be the problem cut backs? you should have laundery and changing facilities surely?
Dx

The problem with having people wash their own uniforms is that some people will wash at over 60c and not wash in with the family laundry, and some will not.

I will have to ask my daughter who is kitchen supervisor what score is at hers? I know when I go to see her at kitchen she doesnt come out just waves and rings me on my mobile
Dx

yes course it is, makes you wonder Maz whether we have gone overboard at times with it?
Dx

ok Maz bye
Dx

Ju Ju you are quite right that is why I posted,
Dx

I watch a documentry program on MRSA once and they were saying the worse people to be the carrier of MRSA is the doctors, they have very little time to wash their hands, they work near on 60 or more hours a week in some cases, and the worse coulprit of all is the tie they wear when examining patience, they go from patience to patience, they wear there white coats but can transfer MRSA and other diseases, just my point of veiw. I also worked as a care assistant on the community to help the eldery in there own homes, and i must admit the hygene was a little bit of a miss there, only limited time to help, then off to the other eldery person who needed help, agency workers in the community are limited time too.

As some of you know my OH is a butcher....he is not allowed to go outside the shop with his white coat and apron on.....even if its to put someones meat in their car.

Karen x

Wendy
I agree about Doctors being the worst culprit. I took some to task once about lack of hygiene and protection of patients. They don't adhere to control of infection policies and please themselves. I don't think ties have been proven as infection risks although they do dangle infront of patients, but handwashing alone is an area where they sadly lack.
Di

Glad you see my view di, i thought i was going overboard with my point of view, but on the documentry, they did examin the tie and it was contaminated with the MRSA bug plus traces of samunela, and that was after a days shift at a hospital, a doctor doing his ward rounds was more of a carrier than an outside person or visitor

My mum bless her always says bring back the old matrons in the hospitals they always run their ships spick and span, if something wasnt clean or to her level of work the ward was never opened un til everything was gleaming, maybe she is right?

yes bring back matrons, I agree but launder on site let nurses have changing rooms and Doctors as well, change start of shift! maybe shower at start of shift?
Davex