I asked the nurse to wash her hands

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

This morning I took my teenage son for a blood test. The nurse had used the keyboard to look up stuff and touched other surfaces. She was just about to take bloods when I said 'you are going to wash your hands aren't you?' She said my son was the first patient of the day and her hands were clean but if it made me feel better she'd wash them. I replied that she'd touched surfaces. She wasn't happy. She washed her hands reluctantly.

I wasn't being an arse was I?

no! Yanbu! I wouldn't dream of taking blood from a parent without washing my hands and putting gloves on, and keyboards are known to be germ infested. well done for calling her out on it. hopefully it'll stick in her mind and she'll make sure she does it next time she tries to bleed a patient.

I've taken blood for 20 years and never worn gloves. Never a policy in place either that makes you have to, it's personal choice. None of my colleagues do either because it's true, you can't feel as well with them. Makes it harder to palate a vein, manipulate the needle and swap the bottles.

YWNBU. Studies show some computer keyboards harbour more harmful bacteria than a toilet seat. Handwashing is standard practice and she should have followed it, she probably just felt embarrassed about forgetting.

She should wash her hands - you were right to ask.

I remember many years ago. living in rural area, the midwife used to turn up with her yappy dogs (which she left in the car thank goodness), but she would stroke them and kiss and fuss over them, then get out of the car and want to start groping around in my stitches without washing her hands!

I went for an appointment at the GP's surgery which involved an internal exam.

As I was about to climb on the couch, I noticed that the GP hadn't changed the paper covering and it looked pretty creased. Not exactly the imprint of someone else's bum but close to it.

I asked her if she would please change the paper. She didn't look very pleased but she changed it.

Absolutely NBU.

I ask every HCP to wash their hands even if they have just used the gel - anyone who had seen a relative suffer with C Diff would do the same imo. The hospital where DH works has "hand washing saves lives" signs everywhere and encourages patients to ask.

Pretty vile that she did not do this as a matter of course.

I'm a nurse and when I worked in a clinical setting I washed my hands constantly. YWNBU as she should've washed before and after taking blood, it's just good practice and good hygiene.

As for gloves - I always wore them to take blood but I know some practitioners find it hard to find the vein with gloves so they don't wear them to take samples.

I'm a surgeon. Clearly I scrub and wear gloves to operate for the protection of both patient and myself. I don't wear gloves to take blood or cannulate, other than in a trauma situation where there is likely to be blood on the patient, therefore a risk to me. I wash my hands prior to seeing a patient but wouldn't then wash them again just before taking blood. The only thing that touches the inside of the patient is the sterile needle. It's no different to when I feel a patients belly or shake their hand. Hands should be socially clean, it's not a sterile procedure. That said, I'd never mind if a patient asked me to wash my hands. No one ever has though.

Gloves aren't anywhere near sterile so quite rightly should be optional if the practitioner can do a better job without them.

She should have washed her hands I agree however, our guidelines (from htm 01-05 or whatever it is that covers this) are that hands don't have to be washed between patients, alcohol gel should be used though. Once your skin gets cracked, you're at a higher risk of contracting something as it's an excellent barrier to all sorts. No idea what all this alcohol is going to our skin though, given that it's such a significant risk factor in oral cancer, rubbing it on our skin for hours a day can't be healthy.

GPs in my experience always wash their hands before (and after) e.g. feeling my belly. I'd expect that and would be surprised if they didn't.

You were right!

DS2 was in hospital with Cellulitis ( a very nasty blood infection) the Sister came to change his drip, dutifully gave her hands a squirt of anti-bacterial spay , then proceeded to wipe them dry on the backside of her uniform.

I was too cowardly to challenge her then, fearing ill treatment to DS, but rang infection control at the hospital later. "Oh God" was what they said. Uphill task for them there.

Surgical gloves are sterile btw, and they actually fit if you know your size. They're hideously expensive compared to the ones we drag out of boxes on the wall. Which have never been sterile.

well done.

i read a study where they tested bacteria on keyboards and toilet seats. keyboards were dirtier.

As a nurse manager I would applaud you. You were right to say it. Good for you. I would have done the same. She was wrong NOT to wash her hands. We all need to start doing the same. Germs and infections love nurses like her. I bet you any money she felt around for a vein. Imagine this....an equally mucky employee uses the keyboard the day before, he/she sneezes on the keyboard or uses the toilet and doesn't wash her/his hands (believe me I've seen it happen more than once) then uses the keyboard. This nurse uses same keyboard then gets up and pokes around on your arm for a vein. She finds one but spreads germs/infection around the site. Then inserts a needle along with said germs. You get an infection in the site and wonder why. Please don't think this can't /doesn't happen because it does.
We are encouraged/entitled to ask health professionals to wash their hands. For the sake of your health please please always ask. A good health professional will not need to be asked.

yanbu, they should always wash their hands immediately prior to patient contact, even if they will be wearing gloves.

Not really the same thing but was going in to a chipper for some chips.The woman outside who was smoking comes in,takes plates away.Without washing her hands.

Was about to pick up the scooper for the chips and i called her over.And i asked her would she mind washing her hands as she had been outside smoking.She grabbed it and said she was about to use it.Face like a slapped arse she had.

yabu. she wasn't extracting organs with her bare fingers. was your son's arm sterile?

YANBU. You were in the right and it is definitely ok to ask.

Well done for saying something. She sounds a bit clueless if she doesn't realise that her keyboard will be covered in bacteria.
I have blood taken all the time, often by nurses. They don't wear gloves but always wash their hands (or use hand gel if there is no sink nearby). I don't think that gloves would be a good idea as it would probably make it more difficult to take blood.

what she should have said was im awfully sorry of course i will

not get stroppy about it just because prob noone has brought it up before

when my mum was ill with cancer she was in a separate room it clearly state don the door eveyrone was to use gel before coming in

one surgeon yes surgeon just walked straight in without washing hs hands

YANBU at all.

Just reminded me of my last smear test when the senior nurse at my local practice (so she should have known better) got the swabs out of the packaging and put them on the flipping worktop area before using them in me!