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Had first shadow shift as carer, woman I was shadowing not washing handsWwyd

18 replies

BillywigSting · 25/07/2019 17:01

So I had my first shadowing shift as a home carer today. The woman I was shadowing clearly didn't want me there for a number of reasons (I had been given the wrong address and she hadn't told the office I hadn't arrived when I phoned them to query where she was, trying to get me to go home halfway through the shift even after missing the first call, leaving me to walk two miles to a call while she had her lunch, she's a driver I'm not, not showing me where various essential items were kept etc).

While the above was obviously not ideal I understand she is busy and wanted to get to all of her clients on time, especially as a few of them were time critical because of various medicines they needed.

The thing that really worried me though is that not once did I see her wash her hands. She used gloves, but was changing continence pads for one person and then giving tablets to the next. If nothing else the gloves are very sweaty and it's been very very hot today so her hands must have been sweating.

I don't want to be a snitch before I've even started properly but I'm a bit concerned about her hand hygiene (as well as her doing various things like bed baths without getting explicit consent)

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BillywigSting · 25/07/2019 17:13

Hopeful bump

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Orangesandlemons82 · 25/07/2019 17:17

There is no excuse for poor hand hygiene (ex nurse) it doesn't take long to wash them. Did she use alcohol gel instead? Maybe she wrongly thought that was satisfactory?

BillywigSting · 25/07/2019 17:21

Not that I saw. My dm is a nurse so have had hand hygiene well and truly drummed into me from day one. So I wondered if I was being a bit out. I washed mine maybe a dozen times today (I prepared some food and disposed of soiled stuff) but didn't see her wash or sanitise hers, just a new pair of gloves for each house

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Knittedjimmychoos · 25/07/2019 17:24

You need to tell someone yes

She's literally putting lives at risk and at that level of incapacity who needs more infections and illness.

No excuse.

Orangesandlemons82 · 25/07/2019 17:26

Yep, I agree. She could literally end up infecting every patient she saw. You would expect with someone shadowing her she would be more conscientious. Makes you wonder what other corners she cut. I think you have to flag it up.

PurpleWithRed · 25/07/2019 17:27

It's difficult, but can you approach your manager on the basis of 'just want to check a few things' basis? You know you really need to. Do you have any idea why she didn't want you shadowing her?

SleepingStandingUp · 25/07/2019 17:31

I agree with Purple, ay you didn't want to start asking questions in front of the clients as you know how time bound you are but you were hoping thry could clarify a few things....

Happy2be · 25/07/2019 17:34

Inform manager or anonymously report to the care inspectorate or equivalent.

Atlasta · 25/07/2019 17:39

Manager needs to know.

BillywigSting · 25/07/2019 17:39

OK, glad I'm not being over dramatic.

She may well have washed her hands as I wasn't with her 100% of the time but the first thing she did going into each house was put gloves on not wash hands. These were very vulnerable adults we were looking after.

I don't know whether having a word with the manager (who I'm shadowing with on Wednesday) is the right call or if I should get onto the cqc.

If I speak to the manager I don't know if feel wholly comfortable leaving it until Wednesday to raise it

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BillywigSting · 25/07/2019 17:49

I have no idea why she didn't want me shadowing her but from not looking for me when I wasn't at the first call (she knew I was meant to be there as she had my uniform) to trying to get me to leave early it was just the impression that I got. I could be way off on that (she might have thought I was due later and be trying to save me waiting around)

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Sportsnight · 25/07/2019 17:52

Hang on. Sorry to be dense.

She used a different pair of gloves in each house? But didn’t wash her hands between changing sets of gloves?

That doesn’t sound like a massive risk of cross contamination. It does sound horribly sweaty though. Especially today!

BillywigSting · 25/07/2019 18:00

Each house yes but not each task Eg, empty catheter bag and dispense medication

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nothingtowearever · 25/07/2019 18:19

Please don't go straight to CQC (even typing their name makes me shudder) tell your manager

UserUndone · 25/07/2019 18:22

I'm a carer and I'm taught to wash my hands before putting gloves on and I wash them when I take them off.

Happy2be · 25/07/2019 18:27

Sportsnight she would fail in infection control for not washing her hands straight after taking her gloves off. It's definitely a concern if you haven't seen her washing her hands between house visits. You don't know what infections she could be taking around with her. I would definitely talk to your manager though if you feel slowing down on taking it further. I always think if they do that in front of you what do they do alone...

DaveMinion · 25/07/2019 18:29

Look up the 5 points of hand hygiene. This is when hands should be washed. Before touching a patient, before aseptic technique (ie emptying catheter), after body fluid exposure risk (after emptying a catheter), after touching a patient, after touching patient surroundings. She should have washed her hands at least 4 times emptying a catheter.

Please flag it up. Patients can be colonised with any kind of bugs that she could be passing on (especially with a catheter).

BillywigSting · 25/07/2019 18:40

OK, I think I'll have a word with my manager.

I'm not going to make accusations as. Such, I'll just mention that I didn't see her wash her hands (rather than claiming that she definitely didn't)

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