Kiddie, Kiddie

Most hospitals have an age limit for visiting children.  When this is explained to some parents, they act like I am a serial killer who despises children.   

I do hate children--but that is not the reason they shouldn't be visiting the hospital.

Before I became a nurse, I thought hospitals were very clean places.  Everyone wore white and operations were done there, so they were all sterile.  Right?  

About 3.7 seconds into my first shift I changed that thought process forever.  Hospitals house patients brought in by land and air with every sort of infection on the planet.   The worst illnesses have been concentrated into one building.   Vomit, diarrhea and pee flood the floor regularly.   Blood splatters, wounds weep.  Pus-filled dressings fall, shitty sheets drop, blisters ooze. 

These body fluids are vectors for the most dangerous organisms.  Humans have been waging war against microorganisms for many years now, and the little creatures have fought back by becoming resistant to many of the drugs we use on them.  Hospitals are basically petrie dishes of powerful disease.    

  

Even if you are sure that blood and poop have not hit the floor in YOUR room, think of this:  the nurse, dietitian, respiratory therapist, doctor, social worker, clerk and every other staff member who comes in your room has been in other rooms.  Imagine what is on the soles of their shoes, tracked up and down the hall, in and out of the rooms. 

I see visitors walking up and down the hall in their bare feet all the time.  Many nurses won't wear their nursing shoes home.  That's how contaminated the floor is. 

I see people sitting on the floor with burritos and popcorn and milkshakes spread around like a picnic.

I see infants crawling on the floor, then sitting up and putting their little hands in their mouths.  

Nurse's Note:   Do not bring small children to the hospital. 

Nurse's Note:  Wear shoes!

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