Something else to hate about my center~!!!!

[karen547]

So yesterday, I go to dialysis thinking okay, today is going to go smoothly, no issues, concerns. I WAS WRONG! One of my techs who I actually went to high school with, accidentally stuck himself with a patient who has HIV's needle. After he told me, I let out a loud ''WHAT!!??'' and immediately quieted down because no other patients knew, even him telling me is probably a no no but oh well. Thankfully his tests so far have all been NEGATIVE and hes on some 7 or 8 pills to I suppose prevent infection? He is leaving the center because when it happened, the staff didn't really do anything, and he feels, like myself that in this center it's all about the money, which seems to be more and more true. But now I am really considering leaving, because I am a bit paranoid about the whole HIV thing, I mean maybe I'm being silly, because I know I cannot get it from the air, but sometimes, I see blood on the floor, or sometimes they miss it on the chairs even, and the bathrooms, well don't even get me started! I also have noticed a lack of concern for the patients, and about 3 people who are staff have left in recent weeks, and I'm starting to not feel safe there, which sucks. And even before my friend told me what had happened, my blood pressure dropped to below 70 and did anyone notice quick enough? no they were to busy on their cell phones!~




TOPIC MOVED to appropriate section - Bajanne, Moderator

[monrein]

You may want or need to leave your centre Karen, for any number of reasons and it sounds as though there might be several BUT if the main reason is because there's someone there with HIV, you might need to rethink your approach to this.  Any centre may have patients with HIV and also hepatitis and this is why good universal hygiene is so important.  There are many people out there, all around us who are living with HIV and they don't wear signs and nor should they need to.  That is why universal precautions need to be in place to protect everyone especially nurses who are sticking people.  Some people are even HIV infected but may not know it and neither would anyone else.  Blood would need to get into your bloodstream, not just on your skin for you to develop HIV.  Of course sexual contact carries the highest risk for most young people who often neglect universal precautions in this area, thinking it could never happen to them.
Paranoia isn't an effective strategy but precautions are legitimate concern put into action.

[karen547]

I know, and your right. I'm not afraid I will catch HIV or hepatitis, not really, but the way they just pretty much acted as if it was no big deal when it happened to him is what is making me want to leave. I also think there are centers closer to my home as well that I could look into. I have been thinking of leaving for awhile now as well.

[totosidney]

I think that blood visible on surfaces is a sign that precautions are not taken seriously. Please consider putting your concerns in a letter to the chief of staff. In my experience, putting it in writing gets attention. I doubt they will try to justify the bloody surfaces. My guess is they will address the issue. ..Sid

[KICKSTART]

Hygiene is hygiene regardless. I know my unit has many faults, but as far as hygiene is concerned its spotless ! We have one dedicated cleaner , who does nothing but clean all the areas all day .On sundays when our unit is closed it is given a deep clean. As soon as we are off our seats they are washed down and fresh sheets put on them. Machines are washed down as well. We are given an HIV test (im not sure how often ,as i have just had my first one on hemo) We do regular swabs for MRSA etc. The nurses have to wash their hands , use hand gel and put on gloves before touching a patient. Yes we may be short on care ! but our hygiene is second to none !!! 

[karen547]

Ya know that is something I have always been curious about, do they test us for HIV or other blood diseases without telling us?

[monrein]

They don't test us here but there would be not much point in NOT telling us.  I mean, if we did have HIV, we'd want to be extra careful not to spread it  (assuming we're "normal" that is, and I do believe that most people do give a darn about others).  I can think of no reason why that would be kept hidden.  Universal precautions means assuming that every person could be carrying something potentially harmful and that's the best way to protect ourselves and others.

[KICKSTART]

We have been told , if you dont hear anything then all is ok . Im not sure how often they test us , but i suppose its not a bad thing.

[karen547]

hmmm, well you and monrein are not in the usa. anyone in the usa know if they test us for HIV?

[RichardMEL]

OK I know I am not in the USA but our unit does HIV every 3 months as part of the monthly bloods. Other things they test on regular basis are things like cholesterol, iron studies, hep B & c antibodies and the like. I'm still HIV -ve

[RightSide]

I think that blood visible on surfaces is a sign that precautions are not taken seriously. Please consider putting your concerns in a letter to the chief of staff. In my experience, putting it in writing gets attention. I doubt they will try to justify the bloody surfaces. My guess is they will address the issue. ..Sid

When I observed hygienic procedures not being followed (non-use of handwashing or hand sanitizer), I met directly with the chief of staff.  She had been unaware this was happening, and she took steps to deal with it.

No chief of staff wants their center to end up as a major story on CNN, or as a target of a government investigation.  They would much rather have a patient point out room for improvement, before it becomes a public issue.  The motto of the New York City Police Department holds here too:

"If you see something, say something!"

[AIRon]

Wow Karen that is wild. When I first started dialysis at a center I was totally freaked out at some of the procedures, at the hospital it was so different, the nurse who took care of me while I was on must have changed her gloves about a thousand times, everything she did got a new pair and some hand sanitizer, now my first time at the center I watched one of the nurses walk around picking up trash off the floor, taking out trash and medical waste than removing another patient off a dializer with out changing his gloves or wash his hands I was in a total sweat, luckily he is not allowed to deal with me because I have a perm cath and I think he is only an LVN. Well the next day I had an appointment with some people for the university of San Francisco about a transplant and I told them what I saw, I really have no idea what happend because of it but I have never seen that dude here again. The best thing to do is speak up you might think you are ratting some one out but look at our situation, these people have our lives in their hands and if they are doing something that makes us uncomfortable we need to make it known, who knows you could be saving some ones life..even your own. So when I am at the center I keep an eye out and see whats going on and who ever approaches me while I am on I will make sure they use the proper ppe when they work on me. Rightside is correct "If you see something, say something!" we need more people to stand up for them selves and others.

[looneytunes]

I SO agree Karen...this should be reported for the safety of all the patients at your center.  Every center should have at least one patient/caregiver who is not willing to just be a sheep.  Reporting, questioning, making suggestions for improvement may not endear you with the staff but it sure will get their attention and thus improve things for all the patients receiving care there. 

[caringpct]

I'm in the USA and I know the center I work at tests for HIV and hep b and c when you first start, when you travel, and yearly. And of course if a tech is stuck with a needle. If we are testing because of the needle stick we have the patient and tech sign papers explaining why testing is being done. The other testing is just routine. I don't go out of my way to tell my patients everything we are testing but if asked I do explain. (I don't mean that in a bad way about going out of my way. I used to and all my patients basically have told me whatever do what I need to do.)

As far as the cleaning of the chairs and machines, I always make sure there is no visible blood and I have reported co-workers that don't clean as well. I actually go to my unit to clean after we close on Saturdays and Sundays. I know I would be grossed out if I had to sit in those chairs after knowing what happens and them not being clean. I would tell a higher up about the issues.

My rule of life, "Treat others and do for others as if it was you or a loved one in the situation."

[cariad]

It is always reassuring to know that people like you still exist in this country, caringPCT.

[Riki]

The centre I go to in Manhattan doesn't put a sheet on the chairs, and that kinda grosses me out a bit, especially since you sweat a lot sitting in those chairs for so long.  It's so different than what I'm used to.  Here, they wash down the chair and put a clean sheet on after every treatment, they give us pillows to rest our arm on through the treatment, and heated blankets if we're cold.  The unit in Manhattan had none of that.  I told them I was cold last year when I was there, and they gave me a plastic sheet to put over me.  This year, I took a blankie with me from home.  Next year, I may bring a pillow, or go to Kmart when I get there and buy one. Where my fistula is, it's really hard to keep my arm straight without something propping it up

A few people have asked me what I thought the biggest difference was between the Canadian centre and the American centre.  My answer always is, When I go in at home, the first question they ask is 'how are you feeling?' but in the States when I go in, the first question they ask is, 'how are you paying?'

[jalexander451]

I would be more concerned that there is blood on the chairs and floor than about the nurse incident.  the former shows  alack of concern for cleanliness, which is reason enough to look for someone better in my opinion.  Good hygiene is critical when dealing with needles being stuck in people's arms. 

[Donnie]

They are supposed to  have isolation rooms for such patients.  MALPRACTICE?