Would you do this for a co-worker (gross)

[Bluestars]

If if were me, I would either have my husband do it or pay a nurse to do it. There is no way I would ever ask a coworker to do something like that for me. I wouldn't even ask my best friend.

 

[clovergirl5]

The only thing worse than being asked to do that would be being in the position of having to ask.

That poor gal!

Yeah, I agree with that....Feel bad for her, but I still wouldn't do it. Maybe the co-workers are very good friends like they consider each other family. Not just the normal co-worker relationship

Isn't this something that should be done by a nurse? Don't people who have stitches or wounds have to go in somewhere to have it cleaned or changed? Just asking, never been in the situation before?

 

[Bluestars]

Clovergirl, I think it is something that should be done by a nurse. The person I know who has been battling it for months always had a nurse change his bandages. It is highly contagious and he is unable to get rid of it. We are very worried about it and thought he was going to die from it several times.

I really hope the pregnant lady who is changing her coworker's bandages has discussed what she is doing with her doctor. All it takes is a little carelessness and bam, she's got it too. I think it's one thing for a trained nurse who is pregnant to be doing this and another for a random person to do it.

 

[clovergirl5]

Clovergirl, I think it is something that should be done by a nurse. The person I know who has been battling it for months always had a nurse change his bandages. It is highly contagious and he is unable to get rid of it. We are very worried about it and thought he was going to die from it several times.

I really hope the pregnant lady who is changing her coworker's bandages has discussed what she is doing with her doctor. All it takes is a little carelessness and bam, she's got it too. I think it's one thing for a trained nurse who is pregnant to be doing this and another for a random person to do it.

I agree. If MRSA wasn't in the scenerio, I still wouldn't do it, but I can understand better for someone who wants to help the co-worker out. With the exception of dc, Im not a good personal caregiver (one who deals with bodily functions or wounds). Commend those who are, but Im not one of them lol. JMO

I'd pee on ya if you got stung by a jellyfish, but other than that.....

 

[PaulaSue]

Okay after going through MRSR and helping my Mom through it I'm very suprised that she has her bandages changed 3 times a day. I had it in my underarm and my Mom had it umm... both of us only were told to change them once a day to give the area time to heal.

 

[dejr_8]

I agree. If MRSA wasn't in the scenerio, I still wouldn't do it, but I can understand better for someone who wants to help the co-worker out. With the exception of dc, Im not a good personal caregiver (one who deals with bodily functions or wounds). Commend those who are, but Im not one of them lol. JMO

I'd pee on ya if you got stung by a jellyfish, but other than that.....

I'm glad to see that you would go the extra mile for a friend

 

[wdwmom2]

No, changing dressings and applying medications can be done at home. My experience, if you have an abscess drained and the wound is large enough to need packing, you may need to go back to the doc to have it rechecked in a day or two. At this point, they instruct you on how to do this at home. It's really not that hard, it's just that it needs done.

Not saying other people may have had different experiences, but changing dressings at home is not uncommon.

 

[wdwmom2]

Okay after going through MRSR and helping my Mom through it I'm very suprised that she has her bandages changed 3 times a day. I had it in my underarm and my Mom had it umm... both of us only were told to change them once a day to give the area time to heal.

But maybe her wound had alot of drainage. I would not want to sit around all day in a pus filled bandage?

 

[clovergirl5]

But maybe her wound had alot of drainage. I would not want to sit around all day in a pus filled bandage?

I so could not be a nurse. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE AND MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY PUS FILLED BANDAGES SOMEDAY.
MANY KUDDOS TO NURSES

 

[JerseyJanice]

Frankly, if I were the one with the infection, I'd make the three times a day in the morning, when I got home from work, and before I went to bed.

There is no way on heaven or earth I'd ask a co-worker to help me with something like that UNLESS she was the company nurse. I've worked in big companies with whole healthcare departments--that's what they're there for and a whole other story. But to ask a regular fellow office worker? No way!

 

[disykat]

I guess one reason I'd be willing to do it is because my son has peanut allergies and I've been amazed at how many people insist they couldn't administer an epi-pen even if it meant someone would die in front of them. I think people underestimate their own abilities and that when something that NOBODY wants to do needs to be done - you grit your teeth and give it your best shot.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Frankly, if I were the one with the infection, I'd make the three times a day in the morning, when I got home from work, and before I went to bed.

This is EXACTLY what I was going to say.

I see no reason why she can't get up early and have her husband/children do this for her, do it once again when she gets home, and again before bed. If she didn't have a job, she would be doing it this way.

No way I would ask a co-worker to spread my cheeks and squeeze smelly puss of of THAT area of my body. I would FIND A WAY to save myself that embarassment.

 

[Amelia Peabody]

I would not hesitate to help IF I weren't pregnant ( I'm not ). What if this girl has no one at home to help? Protective gloves and something that has not been addressed. The old bandages and gauze pads need to be wrapped in hazardous waste bags - the red ones? Improper disposal could put the rest of the workplace at risk.

But sure, I would be helping, in fact, I would offer before she asked. That's just me.

 

[pigletgirl]

Yes, absolutely.

And, when you are pregnant, you aren't guaranteed to not be exposed to MRSA. It could be on shopping cart handles, ect...

Just wash your hands and use hand sanitizer...

 

[clovergirl5]

This is EXACTLY what I was going to say.

I see no reason why she can't get up early and have her husband/children do this for her, do it once again when she gets home, and again before bed. If she didn't have a job, she would be doing it this way.

No way I would ask a co-worker to spread my cheeks and squeeze smelly puss of of THAT area of my body. I would FIND A WAY to save myself that embarassment.

Tag Fairy?

 

[Bluestars]

Here is some info on a pregnant person and being around someone with MRSA:

Question
I am nine months pregnant and was hoping to visit and stay with a relative who has just been screened for MRSA. If she has MRSA in a wound, would this put my baby at risk?

Answer
MRSA stands for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus is a bacteria, which normally lives on the surface of our bodies causing no harm or problem whatsoever. The only difference is that MRSA does not respond to most antibiotics used in general medical practice. Because of this, if it contaminates wounds or internal organs, serious infections can be produced which are difficult to eradicate and potentially fatal in those people who are immune deficient or chronically sick.

In normal healthy people MRSA is of no great significance even if it exists on the skin. People who are most vulnerable to its affects are people in hospitals on ventilators in intensive care, for example. If your relative had MRSA in the wound there is a theoretical possibility that you could then become a carrier of the bug. Normally this would not be a problem, but because childbirth may involve medical procedures and the potential for an episiotomy, or a ******l tear, this would put you at more risk, and of course the baby too, whose skin could become colonized with the bugs from you. My advice would be to postpone this visit to your relative until after the birth and your recovery from it, until the risk is minimized.

 

[clovergirl5]

I guess one reason I'd be willing to do it is because my son has peanut allergies and I've been amazed at how many people insist they couldn't administer an epi-pen even if it meant someone would die in front of them. I think people underestimate their own abilities and that when something that NOBODY wants to do needs to be done - you grit your teeth and give it your best shot.

I could do this. I could even give a shot if I had too. Just not the gooey, pus filled stuff unless it was my own kids. I would have a hard time if it were even dh. I would do it though. He had a hard time looking at my healing c/s incision. What if he had to clean it?LOL He would, but would feel queasy about it.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Tag Fairy?

Oh gosh, please no.

 

[Scurvy]

I guess one reason I'd be willing to do it is because my son has peanut allergies and I've been amazed at how many people insist they couldn't administer an epi-pen even if it meant someone would die in front of them. I think people underestimate their own abilities and that when something that NOBODY wants to do needs to be done - you grit your teeth and give it your best shot.

I could make myself administer an epi-pen in an emergency. I wouldn't want to do it, but I'd suck it up and do it anyway if the alternative was the person dying. The office situation is different, in my opinion. It isn't an emergency. Presumably the girl has people who she is close to - family or friends that she could ask to help her with the problem before and after work or even during her lunch time if necessary. Unless she is very close friends with her coworkers, I find it inappropriate that she would even ask them to help with such a thing. Maybe it would be less convenient for her if a coworker wasn't helping - she might have to get up extra early or go out of her way to visit someone's home. If she doesn't have anyone who she is close to, I imagine she could visit the doctor for continuing care or she could hire some sort of nurse to help her. I'ts not ideal, but it's still better than imposing on her coworkers with such a personal problem. (If she is very close to a coworker then that's different, of course.) Unless I was extremely close to a coworker, I'd be appalled if they asked me to help with something so personal. I would never ask a friend or coworker to help me with anything that personal!

ETA - I'm even more apalled that the person is accepting help like this from a pregnant girl! I hope the pregnant girl has asked her doctor about this, though I would really be shocked if a doctor okayed such a thing.

 

[sunnyday123]

No way. If someone is dropping their pants in front of me, there better be dinner and drinks involved.

Seriously though, I can't imagine asking anyone to squeeze my cheek for me at work to remove pus. I would vomit. That's what they have FMLA for. How does she sit?