Today I totally hate I am a nurse... And this is why so many people get sick

[Crazylovingfam]

Last night at work I admitted a man with MRSA in his sputum and wounds on his hands. Well before the end of my shift he decided to leave against medical advice because according to him it was degrading that we had to dress in full mask and gown/have him in isolation. We tried to explain to him that this infection can be very difficult to treat and is highly contagious so it is for our protection. Well fast forward to today. My friend and I were going out for our normal lunch together with the kids at a buffet. This man is getting food off the buffet, his wound don't even have dressings on them, and he is exposing every person in there to MRSA. I told my friend we were leaving but because of HIPPA I could not tell the buffet staff or other customers. Ugh. I am so fustrated. Before he left we did instruct him to stay out of the public and offered to set up a home health aide to do his errands.

[mich.el.le]

Yikes. I'm never eating off a buffet again. 

[Mrs.Kubalabuku]

Wow.  I know people don't always trust doctors, but that is reckless right there!  I wish you could have warned the other customers and staff, but I understand how HIPPA works.  *sigh*  Couldn't have been easy, though.

[GoddessNDaRuff]

EWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!

Could you call in anonymously and inform the resturant that they have been contaminated? Someone did that for a local resturant. Ugh. I understand your frustration.

[nurbabe82]

 Nasty

[frndlyfn]

Could you not let them know that a person (dont say name) who is highly contagious right now is in the restaurant?  All the food is exposed, tables, the restroom.  Holy cow that place could have dept of health come crashing down on them.

[knagsmom]

couldnt you just have told the buffet manager that there was a customer with open swores and grabbing food. i would have just said that. yes i would have also left before getting food as well

[lovemysnugbugs]

Eew. It must be so hard not to say anything in that situation.

[LexRi0709]

I would contact the dept of health and notify them. Let them handle it. Hippa laws are great, until something like this happens.

[Crazylovingfam]

I called our social worker before I left the parking lot and she said I couldn't. I am so upset.

Quoting frndlyfn:

Could you not let them know that a person (dont say name) who is highly contagious right now is in the restaurant?  All the food is exposed, tables, the restroom.  Holy cow that place could have dept of health come crashing down on them.

[angevil53]

He's an asshole. Maybe he'll die from it. Serves him right.