SCPA Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Who wears a mask during encounters with flu + patients?? Thinking about going that route this year..had a rather unpleasant bout w/ the flu last season. My exam rooms are shoe box sized, so we're up close and personal the entire time. Just curious how normal (or abnormal) this is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted December 3, 2018 Administrator Share Posted December 3, 2018 I wear eyepro (with +3.0 readers), fastidiously wash my hands, and got my flu shot a couple of months ago. No masks, though. I also have my MA run rapid flu on reasonable suspicion (cough+body aches+rapid onset, etc.) so I'm mostly not seeing flu patients until I already know they do or do not have flu, so if they're positive, we skip to why Tamiflu is not (or is) a good idea and it's a pretty short encounter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted December 3, 2018 Moderator Share Posted December 3, 2018 Wash hands. Wash hands. And wash hands. When I worked a flu clinic in ER I worn a fluid shield face mask all shift. When flu gets going I wear a mask if I am seeing some. Also I NEVER stand in front of them. Always on side or behind them. And ask them to turn their head away from me when exam. Seems to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetMeOuttaThisMess Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 35 minutes ago, ventana said: Wash hands. Wash hands. And wash hands. When I worked a flu clinic in ER I worn a fluid shield face mask all shift. When flu gets going I wear a mask if I am seeing some. Also I NEVER stand in front of them. Always on side or behind them. And ask them to turn their head away from me when exam. Seems to work. Except for when the not so bright patients think that turning their head to the side and openly coughing takes place in the direction of your room exit so now you get to walk through the suspended spray field that not only exists for that visit but according to the literature, up to TWO hours. No, I don’t wear a mask, though our NP did all flu season last year. I am annually vaccinated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCPA Posted December 3, 2018 Author Share Posted December 3, 2018 1 hour ago, rev ronin said: I wear eyepro (with +3.0 readers) Like the tactical glasses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted December 3, 2018 Administrator Share Posted December 3, 2018 3 minutes ago, SCPA said: Like the tactical glasses? Yep. Uvex Genesis 2's with readers, specifically. $12 on Amazon, so I could really care less if they get scratched or lost. Also, there's nothing more satisfying than having I&D contents hit your eyepro instead of your face... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennelise Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 I used to work with an awesome nurse who put a mask on the patient if they continuously turned towards the healthcare staff and coughed or didn’t/unable to cover their mouth when coughing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinkertdm Posted December 3, 2018 Share Posted December 3, 2018 Last year when I worked a walk-in I wore a mask the entire flu season. It probably didn't do anything except remind patients of their germs. My biggest preventative health was to turn to a young adult (who probably didn't know better) and tell him "for crying out loud, cover your mouth!". His daddy got upset, but that's what you get for bringing your 23 yo to the walk in for a cold. I would recommend a spray bottle with water, to train them like cats. They cough, just spritz them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entpac Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 I wear a.mask if the patient is acutely ill and tell them "there's a virus going around." I wear one in the room if there is a heavy tobacco smoke smell too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas5814 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 I wear a mask off and on. I always wear a new pair of exam gloves in each visit and wash my hands or use alcohol gel after I remove my gloves. As a matter of habit I place my hand on top a kids heads while ascultating because they just naturally want to turn towards me. That way I can keep them pointed in another direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cideous Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Millions of micro droplets in one sneeze traveling 75 feet.....just relax and stop worrying about it. If you are going to get sick, you are going to get sick. There's not much you can do working in a clinic other then basic stuff mentioned above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinkertdm Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 2 hours ago, Cideous said: Millions of micro droplets in one sneeze traveling 75 feet.....just relax and stop worrying about it. If you are going to get sick, you are going to get sick. There's not much you can do working in a clinic other then basic stuff mentioned above. You obviously didn't read the essential oils thread. Drink that stuff like nobody's business, and you can walk through the valley of death!...pretty much any walk in or urgent care out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cideous Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 2 hours ago, thinkertdm said: You obviously didn't read the essential oils thread. Drink that stuff like nobody's business, and you can walk through the valley of death!...pretty much any walk in or urgent care out there. ROFL I stand humbly corrected and yes...this post wins the thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetMeOuttaThisMess Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 Ah, never mind. Not the day to complain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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