The Dreaded Hand Tissue
An unfortunately common practice around these parts is for patients to hold onto a Kleenex for a prolonged period of time. Not a thin, billowy pristine one fresh out of the box, nor one carefully folded for convenient storage just in case it's required. No, I'm talking about the dreaded hand tissue, molded into a crusty tubular shape by the combination of absorbing various bodily secretions and applying what's left of Grandma's grip strength.
Now I don't know about you, but when I'm done with a Kleenex I throw it away immediately. The sole purpose of such tissue is to use it to collect stuff that you don't want to get on your hands. Otherwise you'd just blow your nose in your hand and wipe it on your jeans, right?
These patients missed that memo, it seems. They clandestinely hold onto their germ sponge until it's time to shake hands with their doctor, then they meekly transfer it to their left hand. Sometimes.
Oh, thanks, I appreciate that. You should see what was in MY hand a few minutes ago, lady.
Now I don't know about you, but when I'm done with a Kleenex I throw it away immediately. The sole purpose of such tissue is to use it to collect stuff that you don't want to get on your hands. Otherwise you'd just blow your nose in your hand and wipe it on your jeans, right?
These patients missed that memo, it seems. They clandestinely hold onto their germ sponge until it's time to shake hands with their doctor, then they meekly transfer it to their left hand. Sometimes.
Oh, thanks, I appreciate that. You should see what was in MY hand a few minutes ago, lady.
Labels: bad ideas, general interest
posted by scalpel at 12:26 AM
13 Comments:
Funny but true Scalpel. :)
I confess to having tear soaked tissues wadded up in my hands. And if really upset...even shredded somewhat. Kind of tearing at the tissue while telling something distressful, but that was more from marriage counseling days years ago.
I don't think I have done that to a med doc though, but I have also been on the receiving end from a patient.
HAHAHA
The mind picture is just gross!
But funny.
Shaking hands must really be one of the most unsanitary and unhealthful practices in our culture. Just think, Bob sneezed into his hand, covering the skin with virus particles. Too bad he has the flu. Then he shook hands with Velma, who had just blown her nose. She shook hands with my office nurse, who had just washed her hands. But then she handed me this pen I'm writing with. No, I'm not chewing on it!
http://mdoncall.blogspot.com
I was recently in the hospital for 5 days and while there I was thinking about another doctor's post about why he tries to get his patients out of the hospital asap.
I am a patient who becomes ill if sent home too early post-op and so I always want to stay over rather than vomit at home all nite.
Training helps but people are still people and I observed many instances where bacteria could be introduced to my system. Among other things I was fighting a pre-sepsis infection.
The nurses were great, but one nurse actually pulled my Percocet out of her pocket and handed it to me. No wrapping, no cup and no gloves. Her fingers to my fingers and I don't recall what I had been touching. I think I heard Alfred Hitchcock music while staring at that little pill and I wondered what had been in her pocket and where her hands had been and she just came out of my bathroom to see why the toilet wouldn't stop flushing. I assume she didn't touch anything but...?
I took it without saying a word but I will not do that again.
Then what about when foley tubes scrape on the floor? Can uninvited guests hitch a ride directly up to Bajingoland?
And just how well does housekeeping wipe down the bed rails, telephone, remote, etc., or do they? What about the pulse-ox, the BP cuffs (I know they don't)Believe me I don't go around all phobic or even mention my thoughts. They're just observations.
It reminds me of a Scrubs episode where this woman was going to be discharged and someone handed her a pen to sign something. They highlighted the infectious bacteria on the person giving the pen, on the pen, then transferring to the patient's hand who touched her face, at which point you saw the infection travel down through her nasal passages into her lungs and she later died. I know you all know that stuff but it is interesting how things are potentially spread. (I think that would be a great episode for health care workers to see. Entertaining visual to bring the point home.)
This isn't medical but as someone who has been through a lot of urological issues, it alarmed me to go into a Quickcheck bathroom and see a huge brand new, still wrapped roll of toilet paper on its side on the bathroom floor between the 2 stalls on the FLOOR! Paper was covering the outside flat part of roll but the exposed side of the tissue was flat on the floor. YIKES!
I told the manager and asked her if that was what they always do because that was so unsanitary and could introduce infection. She said it wasn't and that she would remove it. But I wonder...did someone else come along and use it?
Scalpel-sorry if off track, just delete if you want to. :)
The only time they relinquish the old balled up soaked tissue is when you are able to give them a new one. Not that that makes their hands any cleaner. Yum!
My favorite is when they tuck the nasty scraps of nose rag into their watch strap (or bra strap). Charming.
*shudder*
I work in a nursing home and I have a guy who goes through at least a box, if not 2, of kleenex a day. He stuffs them in his sleeves, down his shirt, and in his diaper. I changed him the other day and he didn't understand why I wouldn't let him have the urine soaked ones back. Lovely.
I enjoy the 'winter in summer' tissue scene, you know, walk in the room to find large, white, damp tissues littering the floor.
I never shake hands with a doctor or nurse. They don't offer, and neither do I. When the nurse comes to get me, I always have my hands full of handbags and glasses and stuff, and she has a chart in her hands. When the doctor comes in, I make sure I'm sitting in a chair already, and I don't get up.
I only shake hands when socially required.
My great aunt likes to tuck a kleenex in her sleeve, pull it out, use it, and then tuck it back in the sleeve for repeat uses. I guess she's a thrifty little thing!
For some reason, it's a consistent finding that little old ladies show up in pre-op with a tissue in one hand. No one else; just them. I'm sure it's a sign of something, but I don't know what.
You know men use to carry hankies with them all the time. Many still do. They used them all day long and in the morning before leaving for work they would get a clean one from their drawer. Where is the difference between a little old lady hanging onto a kleenex all day and a man using that same hankie all day? I imagine now most men would deny ever doing such things, but I bet you the number of them sold yearly in stores would dispute that claim.
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