Hi all,
Just wondering if any nurses out there need to wear compression garments and how they go on with infection control policies? I am thinking it may be difficult to wash hands appropriately with a sleeve and glove on!
Thanks in advance
Carolyn x
No, but perhaps a question for your Occupational Health dept?
Atat
Thanks Atat I will ask them at my next review!
Please let me know their answer. I do not have lymphoedema currently, when i saw the specialust nurse i had a 7.5% difference, but because of my symptoms she issued me with a glove and gauntlet. Summers are always tough with me getting sausage fingers very concerned about this coming summer, especially as we have no air con at work.
Hi lexilou3
I didn’t have much luck really no one seems to know anything! I am playing it by ear! On a graded return at the moment after a recurrence scare! I am due to move to a new role which will mean less patient contact! You really cant wash your hands properly so need to take glove off this is fine if you dont see many patients but I cannot imagine how it would work with lots of patients! Sorry a singularly unhelpful reply! If I find out any more I will certainly post on here!
Carolyn
What area of nursing are you in ? i am also on a prolonged phased return at the moment due to fatigue and work as a Practice Nurse. I love my job, but wonder how sustainable it is. Just hit the one year anni of diagnosis, so my first challenge is return to full time work. Hopefully this will be achieved in the summer.
I am a CPN and 3 years down the line this year! I went back to work 4 months after my op (mastectomy and reconstruction) but have been in pain ever since! I have permanent nerve damage which is triggered by driving! I recently needed a bone and MRI scan as I am claustrophobic I struggled with these! As a practice nurse I suspect you may stuggle with a glove and hand hygiene! Wearing a glove over the top is uncomfortable and a little impractical! Not sure what the answer is I find writing and computer work make my affected arm ache bit like toothache all the time! I also suffer from fatigue so dont have much of a life outside of work!! Too tired after a day at work! Part of my role previously was working with practice nurses managing dementia reviews! I should be back to full time in 3 weeks so will see how I manage! I would liaise with your union for advice on redeployment if you struggle with your job and compression combo!! Let me know how you get on.
My experience may help, although I suspect it depends on the specific job and the infection control team. I am a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) who is undertaking a phased return to work in the NHS following cancer treatment. I have lymphoedema which I manage with a compression sleeve and glove. The majority of my clinical work takes place in an outpatient setting. I undertake aseptic procedures, dressing changes, patient assessments, and education. Occasionally I have to review patients on wards.
Before I was allowed to return to clinical practice the OH department required that I had a risk assessment performed by an Infection Control Nurse (ICN). I thought this was going to be the end of my clinical career and that redeployment was on the cards. Following an assessment of my practice the ICN made practice specific recommendations. These can be summarised as follows:
Entering a ward: wear a long cuffed disposable glove over the compression glove, use alcohol rub to sanitize both hands.
Patient examinations: wear disposable oversleeve and long cuffed disposable glove (ensure cuff is over the top of the oversleeve). Sanitize before and after, then dispose of glove and oversleeve. New oversleeve and glove required for each patient review. Wear a clean long cuffed glove if writing notes in a ward environment.
Aseptic procedures: disposable oversleeve and non-sterile long cuffed gloves (sanitized) to set up trolley. Remove gloves, don sterile gloves and perform the procedure. Remove sterile gloves and disposable oversleeve after each procedure.
It is a bit of a pain, but it does mean that I can stay in my current role. I carry a supply of long cuffed disposable gloves and oversleeves with me so that I do not get caught out by unexpected patient reviews.
I know the information I have given is quite specific to my role, but it does show that it may be possible to continue some clinical duties.
Kind regards,
Kiwi