Perhaps OSHA should get involved here . . .

[Crescent Cat]

As part of my job of working with people with disabilities I function as a supervisor for a group in the vocational program. What we do is go to two hospitals and collect the recycling from the bins. It's a great job, I love my crew and they are hard workers. The EVS people at the hospitals are great too. They work with us and if I ever need anything they're there.

However, some of the things I've found in the recycling bins have lead me to question the competency and basic common sense of some of the hospital staff.

Sometimes we find trash - Styrofoam cups and the likes - no big deal. I have a trash bag on the cart for just such occasion.

Other times I find medical equipment that I don't know what the hell it is. I found this plastic bag with a half circle opening with the print "single patient use only" on it. What the fuck? What is this? Was it used by someone? Should it be in the biohazard bin instead? Is this a fucking ostomy pouch!? I don't know!

Other things I've found in the bins are as follows -

- Bags labeled "Biohazard"
- Sealed IV catheter needles
- Yellow sterile jackets. I don't know the actual name but they're used by phlebotomists when they take your blood.
- And worst of all . . . a hemoccult card. A USED hemoccult card.

You fucking pieces of shit. What the hell is wrong with you? You people are doctors and nurses yet you can't comprehend that these are things that should absolutely never, EVER, go in a recycling bin?

Now being that I've worked in assisted living for over a year let me assure you that I'm not squeamish. I've dealt with blood and human waste personally and I always practice universal precautions every time I do. So my frustration is not in the fact that I find these items nauseating.

I am pissed off because these things are putting my crew at risk. They don't understand universal precautions. If bio hazardous material, medical equipment and human waste is getting into these bins they won't understand how to handle it properly. I've done my best to train them but it can only go so far. This negligence is putting the safety of my crew at risk and I won't stand for it.

I've already spoken to the heads of the EVS departments at both hospitals and they're taking my complaints just as seriously as I am. I'm glad that I have a voice and the incidents have decreased but this shouldn't be an issues to begin with.

I realize being an ER nurse or doctor is not easy and very stressful but please, use some common sense and dispose of your shit properly. If any of my crew ever ends up contracting a disease from something like this, I will personally hunt done the irresponsible bitch that disposed of it and make sure that his/her nursing/medical license is taken away.

[Sapphire Silk]

Please, please, PLEASE report this to Infection Control at this hospital. Take pictures to show them. Environmental Services is good, Infection Control is better. IC nurses are pit bulls

They will move swiftly to deal with this, because as you say, this is completely unacceptable.

Not sure what the bag was; it could be an ostomy bag or an antibiotic IV bag.

Sharps . . . omg.

The yellow thingies are called vaccutainers.

[Seshat]

Seconding (thirding?) both of you that something has to be done about this!

If Panacea recommends Infection Control, then go there. And yeah, I can imagine an IC nurse' reaction to this ... they're the ones who have to deal with the results!

[Crescent Cat]

Quoth Panacea

Please, please, PLEASE report this to Infection Control at this hospital. Take pictures to show them. Environmental Services is good, Infection Control is better. IC nurses are pit bulls

They will move swiftly to deal with this, because as you say, this is completely unacceptable.

Not sure what the bag was; it could be an ostomy bag or an antibiotic IV bag.

Sharps . . . omg.

The yellow thingies are called vaccutainers.

Fortunately the sharps were still in the original wrappers and hadn't been opened yet. If I ever do find a dirty needle in the bins where will be hell to pay. Still I don't know what is going through these peoples' minds when they think it is okay to dispose of stuff like that. I sure as hell don't want to trust anyone that dimwitted with my life.

I didn't know IC was an option. If anymore incidents come up I'll see about putting a complaint in with them as well. EVS said that they're investigating what I found. Hopefully it'll knock some sense into someone.

BTW - I was referring to the yellow coat that phlebotomists wear when they take your blood. I've taken Phlebotomy and I've had to wear one myself, I just can't remember what they're called since its been a few years.

[dalesys]

Quoth Crescent Cat

BTW - I was referring to the yellow coat that phlebotomists wear when they take your blood.

Ought to add black stripes and call them B-Coats.


B-Cause we're gonna sting ya!

[Sapphire Silk]

Quoth Crescent Cat

Fortunately the sharps were still in the original wrappers and hadn't been opened yet. If I ever do find a dirty needle in the bins where will be hell to pay. Still I don't know what is going through these peoples' minds when they think it is okay to dispose of stuff like that. I sure as hell don't want to trust anyone that dimwitted with my life.

I didn't know IC was an option. If anymore incidents come up I'll see about putting a complaint in with them as well. EVS said that they're investigating what I found. Hopefully it'll knock some sense into someone.

BTW - I was referring to the yellow coat that phlebotomists wear when they take your blood. I've taken Phlebotomy and I've had to wear one myself, I just can't remember what they're called since its been a few years.

OH! Sounds like a clean gown similar to the kind worn in isolation rooms. They're often made of a paper like fabric because they're meant for single use, then throw a way. Nursing wears them in isolation rooms. Other departments use them to protect clothing for things like phelbotomy. If they're thick enough, sometimes they're worn backwards as a jacket .

[Shalom]

Quoth Panacea

They're often made of a paper like fabric because they're meant for single use, then throw a way.

Makes you wonder if someone looked at the label and said "Oh look! Paper! That must go in the recycling bin, right?"

If they haven't got biowaste on them, heck, they may even actually be recyclable for all I know.

The rest of that stuff, hell no.

[emt_cookies]

Quoth Panacea

Please, please, PLEASE report this to Infection Control at this hospital. Take pictures to show them. Environmental Services is good, Infection Control is better. IC nurses are pit bulls

They will move swiftly to deal with this, because as you say, this is completely unacceptable.

Not sure what the bag was; it could be an ostomy bag or an antibiotic IV bag.

Sharps . . . omg.

The yellow thingies are called vaccutainers.

They really, really are scary. I used to volunteer there with my ex's mom and they are scary. Doctors, residents, and medical students run to wash their hands the moment they see them. They will walk around the hospital and take pictures too.

You should be able to email or call them.

[Difdi]

Quoth Crescent Cat

If any of my crew ever ends up contracting a disease from something like this, I will personally hunt done the irresponsible bitch that disposed of it and make sure that his/her nursing/medical license is taken away.

Or better yet, make sure they get stuck with the same needle your crew member did...or at least, tell them that before you jab them with a sterile needle.

[Sapphire Silk]

Quoth Shalom

Makes you wonder if someone looked at the label and said "Oh look! Paper! That must go in the recycling bin, right?"

If they haven't got biowaste on them, heck, they may even actually be recyclable for all I know.

The rest of that stuff, hell no.

If used by a phlebotomist in a regular room . . . maybe.

If used in an isolation room, definitely not. It has to be incinerated. There's even a special way to take off such a gown so you don't get infectious bacteria on your clothing.