Will neglect from gov't school re:MRSA stop me as LPN

[kjcclpn]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

Hx
I am a student of an LPN program ran by the Department of Labor at a Job Corps Center in PA. I graduated in July and take my NCLEX soon.

May of '04, I went to the infirmary with an unexplainable swollen lip. The nurses iced it and sent me back out. It got bigger, so I returned the main doctor said it was probably a bite of some sort, and sent me back out without treatment. The next day it was a knot of about 1 inch in diameter, which made it hard to talk and eat. A second doctor said it was a cyst and wanted to drain it. She said that the center couldn't be liable for a scar on my face so she couldn't incise it. Instead she stuck me in the lip with a large barrel needle with no anesthetic, and tried to suck the drainage out into the syringe. When that didn't work, she stuck it 4 more times to make holes and then tried to squeeze the drainage out. She gave me antibiotics and ordered me back in a week. In a week the thing was almost gone.

I started getting similar spots elsewhere on my body, while still on the Keflex. They would almost disappear. The doc would give me the all clear, dc the Keflex and then I would break out again. Each outbreak of boils got worse. They were severely painful, ranged from 1 inch to 3.5 inches in diameter, and were from head to toe. During this time I saw both doctors, the infirmary manager, and sought all other routes to try to receive treatment. Fighting any gov't program is practically futile, and I just kept getting referred around to other offices. I knew that a culture and sensitivity would give me a dx and proper med tx. But because I had no coverage, I was denied this basic test.

During this time, I began clinicals as a practical nursing student. I was very leary of caring for immunocompromised patients while my infection and lesions were active. My teachers had the same fear. The only time that they aggressively approached the infirmary in my regard, they were reprimanded. I tried to call in sick re: my boils a couple of times, but was told to keep them covered and mind my handwashing. One particular time I was delivered to clincals with lesions on my face arms and wrists to care for a patient with active SLE. *sigh*

For 6 months I was given only Keflex. Month 7 I demanded (irately) a med change and Biaxin didn't work either. Month 8 Bactrim worked, but I had an allergic reaction...so I was put back on Keflex once the infection returned.

Finally after 8 months of battling for coverage, I received my PA access card. It was amazing how easily I got into the infirmary office that day. The doctor told the nurse to schedule a referral appt with a dermatologist. However, there isn't a dermatologist in this local area who takes the Access Card. But the order for referral had already been written, and so the center had to pay for my treatment.

And so, I saw a specialist who dx'ed me on sight, but ordered a C&S for certainty. As I had feared, I had CA-MRSA which was already becoming resistant to other medications from long term inappropriate use. 10 days of clindamycin and bactroban to open areas and nasal area, and the infection was gone.

Now some 6 months later, with scars from my face to my toes, I have a boil. I went to the doctor who said to just keep putting bactroban on it. I asked to see the dermatologist and he refused. He said, we'll just order the same antibiotics she did if you think you need them. I asked if he though I needed them. He said he didn't know. I had to ask him if he'd like to see the boil. He said, "Sure, I guess I can look at it." Took one look and said that I was probably right, didn't seem like a topical would take care of it. I asked if it would be cultured and he said, "nah, I figure it's probably the same thing."

I asked to see the dermatologist, or a dermatologist... she had told me to return if it reoccurred so that we could do more testing to see if it lay dormant somewhere else, if I were colonized, if further treatment would be helpful. She said that having it without proper treatment could cause me to be colonized or a carrier. The school doc said he'd just call and do as she referred.

Is there something legally that I could do about this situation? I have serious fears. This is community living, what if this spreads. I do my best as a soon-to-be-nurse to follow aseptic technique with basically no supplies, but isn't this a public health concern? Will this stop me from working in the field I just spent 1 1/2 years to get into? This is just one case (my case) of this doctor's routinely negligent manner of care, can I link with others like me? I just want this guy fired really, but I know I have to ask for something. I don't want money. But could they treat my scars as payment?

Oh, and I got ticked off the first time around and wanted to take all this to a lawyer, but when I asked for my chart, the infirmary used HIPPA as a defense. They said I couldn't even look at my chart without a doctor there for interpretation, let alone take a copy. Can HIPPA really stop me from having a copy of my own medical records?

Thanks if you made it through this.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

Hx
I am a student of an LPN program ran by the Department of Labor at a Job Corps Center in PA. I graduated in July and take my NCLEX soon.

May of '04, I went to the infirmary with an unexplainable swollen lip. The nurses iced it and sent me back out. It got bigger, so I returned the main doctor said it was probably a bite of some sort, and sent me back out without treatment. The next day it was a knot of about 1 inch in diameter, which made it hard to talk and eat. A second doctor said it was a cyst and wanted to drain it. She said that the center couldn't be liable for a scar on my face so she couldn't incise it. Instead she stuck me in the lip with a large barrel needle with no anesthetic, and tried to suck the drainage out into the syringe. When that didn't work, she stuck it 4 more times to make holes and then tried to squeeze the drainage out. She gave me antibiotics and ordered me back in a week. In a week the thing was almost gone.

I started getting similar spots elsewhere on my body, while still on the Keflex. They would almost disappear. The doc would give me the all clear, dc the Keflex and then I would break out again. Each outbreak of boils got worse. They were severely painful, ranged from 1 inch to 3.5 inches in diameter, and were from head to toe. During this time I saw both doctors, the infirmary manager, and sought all other routes to try to receive treatment. Fighting any gov't program is practically futile, and I just kept getting referred around to other offices. I knew that a culture and sensitivity would give me a dx and proper med tx. But because I had no coverage, I was denied this basic test.

During this time, I began clinicals as a practical nursing student. I was very leary of caring for immunocompromised patients while my infection and lesions were active. My teachers had the same fear. The only time that they aggressively approached the infirmary in my regard, they were reprimanded. I tried to call in sick re: my boils a couple of times, but was told to keep them covered and mind my handwashing. One particular time I was delivered to clincals with lesions on my face arms and wrists to care for a patient with active SLE. *sigh*

For 6 months I was given only Keflex. Month 7 I demanded (irately) a med change and Biaxin didn't work either. Month 8 Bactrim worked, but I had an allergic reaction...so I was put back on Keflex once the infection returned.

Finally after 8 months of battling for coverage, I received my PA access card. It was amazing how easily I got into the infirmary office that day. The doctor told the nurse to schedule a referral appt with a dermatologist. However, there isn't a dermatologist in this local area who takes the Access Card. But the order for referral had already been written, and so the center had to pay for my treatment.

And so, I saw a specialist who dx'ed me on sight, but ordered a C&S for certainty. As I had feared, I had CA-MRSA which was already becoming resistant to other medications from long term inappropriate use. 10 days of clindamycin and bactroban to open areas and nasal area, and the infection was gone.

Now some 6 months later, with scars from my face to my toes, I have a boil. I went to the doctor who said to just keep putting bactroban on it. I asked to see the dermatologist and he refused. He said, we'll just order the same antibiotics she did if you think you need them. I asked if he though I needed them. He said he didn't know. I had to ask him if he'd like to see the boil. He said, "Sure, I guess I can look at it." Took one look and said that I was probably right, didn't seem like a topical would take care of it. I asked if it would be cultured and he said, "nah, I figure it's probably the same thing."

I asked to see the dermatologist, or a dermatologist... she had told me to return if it reoccurred so that we could do more testing to see if it lay dormant somewhere else, if I were colonized, if further treatment would be helpful. She said that having it without proper treatment could cause me to be colonized or a carrier. The school doc said he'd just call and do as she referred.

Is there something legally that I could do about this situation? I have serious fears. This is community living, what if this spreads. I do my best as a soon-to-be-nurse to follow aseptic technique with basically no supplies, but isn't this a public health concern? Will this stop me from working in the field I just spent 1 1/2 years to get into? This is just one case (my case) of this doctor's routinely negligent manner of care, can I link with others like me? I just want this guy fired really, but I know I have to ask for something. I don't want money. But could they treat my scars as payment?

Oh, and I got ticked off the first time around and wanted to take all this to a lawyer, but when I asked for my chart, the infirmary used HIPPA as a defense. They said I couldn't even look at my chart without a doctor there for interpretation, let alone take a copy. Can HIPPA really stop me from having a copy of my own medical records?

Thanks if you made it through this.

HIPAA allows you to both review your chart and order copies at a charge, the only records with special consideration are psychiatric and psychological. Was this infection aquired on the job or as a result of the training? The fact that you had a reaction to medication may open up another can of worms, have you had any other drug reactions? Do you have A1AD?

 

[ellencee]

kjcclpn
There is so much in your post that needs to be addressed, it is almost impossibe the know where to begin.

First, don't ever go in a patient's room when you have active skin lesions; heck, don't go anywhere in a patient-care setting except to the ER for treatment.

Report your living facility/dorm to the county health department. Report the whole scenario to the state's LPN licensing board.

Report the whole scenario to your US Congress-persons and to your State Congress-persons. (US and State Senators' and Reps' addresses and contact information is available on the web.)

Wash everything you wear, sleep on, use for personal care, etc. with a 10% solution of Clorox, every day. Do not allow dirty clothes to accumulate and don't share anything with anyone. Use separate towels for your body, your hair, and your face; do not reuse before washing. Use a disposible nail brush and clean under your fingernails every day; at night, put bactroban under your nails (after cleaning) and on the bridge of your nose that runs between the nares, every night without fail.

Some people are more prone to skin staph infections and it appears you are most definitely prone to such. You probably aquired the infections in the 'locker room' setting in which you live. Someone else is carrying the organism and everyone is at risk from you and from the primary carrier.

What a freakin' infection control nightmare! Get busy notifying the right people before this population of LPNs enters active, full-time employment and starts wiping out a significant portion of the patient population in your area of PA.

EC

 

[kjcclpn]

HIPAA allows you to both review your chart and order copies at a charge, the only records with special consideration are psychiatric and psychological. Was this infection aquired on the job or as a result of the training? The fact that you had a reaction to medication may open up another can of worms, have you had any other drug reactions? Do you have A1AD?

Might there be a page of reference that I can take in highlighted in order to obtain my chart. I started researching HIPPA, but have yet to find where these answers are spelled out in black and white. It's just too huge of an undertaking... not to mention the time it takes me to decipher lawyerese.

I acquired MRSA a month or so after I arrived on center - towards the end of May... whether it be from the infirmary, or the dormatory, the school building, bathrooms, staff, students... who knows. The only certainty is that it wasn't due to any break of aseptic technique during clinicals. My classroom training didn't start until July, and Clinicals began in August.

The issue is that it took around 8 months of fighting to obtain a culture to prove that it was MRSA, and find appropriate treatment. There are no labs to show it as MRSA from the start, or while caring for patients, up until the end of the 8 months. I was held back one day, while beginning the clindamycin, at which point I was released to return to clinical practice. Heck, I missed more clinical hours than that for pink eye! *rolls eyes*

I've never had an allergic reaction until I tried the Bactrim. Three days into therapy, the lesions were gone, but were replaced that night with hives. A simple allergy, and my first and only.

A1AD? I had to look that one up. Nope, not that I'm aware of. My lungs and liver are healthy. Why did you ask?

Thanks.

 

[kjcclpn]

kjcclpn
There is so much in your post that needs to be addressed, it is almost impossibe the know where to begin.

First, don't ever go in a patient's room when you have active skin lesions; heck, don't go anywhere in a patient-care setting except to the ER for treatment.

Report your living facility/dorm to the county health department. Report the whole scenario to the state's LPN licensing board.

Report the whole scenario to your US Congress-persons and to your State Congress-persons. (US and State Senators' and Reps' addresses and contact information is available on the web.)

Wash everything you wear, sleep on, use for personal care, etc. with a 10% solution of Clorox, every day. Do not allow dirty clothes to accumulate and don't share anything with anyone. Use separate towels for your body, your hair, and your face; do not reuse before washing. Use a disposible nail brush and clean under your fingernails every day; at night, put bactroban under your nails (after cleaning) and on the bridge of your nose that runs between the nares, every night without fail.

Some people are more prone to skin staph infections and it appears you are most definitely prone to such. You probably aquired the infections in the 'locker room' setting in which you live. Someone else is carrying the organism and everyone is at risk from you and from the primary carrier.

What a freakin' infection control nightmare! Get busy notifying the right people before this population of LPNs enters active, full-time employment and starts wiping out a significant portion of the patient population in your area of PA.

EC

Wow, boy do I feel validated. I had surrendered to thinking that I was the only person who saw this as a potentially dangerous situation.

As for avoiding contact with patients... I sought all means to do so but would have been dismissed from the program for missing too many hours. The medical staff here downplayed the situation so much that I felt I was overreacting. Staph is very common, especially in healthcare settings... and there is little in nursing books regarding the MRSA strain at this time. It's just recently began making headlines. So, I denied my gut.

I tried other avenues too, but basically I'm tangoing with the federal government here. The infirmary answers to both MTC management company and the Department of Labor (which funds and helps to run it), and supposedly they did as they were directed to do. How to prove that, who knows. So I just did my best to keep all open areas bandaged, clean, and most of the time consealed by 2 layers of clothing. I wore gloves even outside of pt's rooms when lesions were on my hands, and just avoided touching my face. I did the best I could with no direction, and implemented knowledge as I picked it up.

I wanted to call the health department before, but MRSA isn't a reportable disease in the state of PA so I thought it futile. I didn't want to call the state board of nursing because my instructors and the program administrator had went to bat for me and been reprimanded. Gov't systems seem to have a knack at silencing others. I didn't want blame to fall on the LPNP staff, but I do realize that myself, my teachers, and all center staff aware of this are equally at blame. I'll start looking up telephone numbers and addresses now.

Is their no legal action that can be taken as added reinforcement that something be done? It takes so much for these people to respond, it's ridiculous. I know it has nothing to do with me, but I sat today in the infirmary listening to a pregnant teenager beg to be sent to a gynecologist due to bleeding for a couple weeks.... not excessive, yet still frightening. And again, potentially harmful. I have 2 friends personally who were taken off psychotropics because the GP thought them unnecessary. They were both terminated from center for following behavioral problems.... talk about too much to address.

Thank you for your reassuring input, and the containment directions. I've been following all (except I don't have a nailbrush.. but then again barely have nails.. ) by my own design. Oh, and the bactroban goes in and around the nostrils with swabs 3xday, once the dermatologist gave the order. It makes me wonder if other students without any nursing/medical knowledge have this stuff around me and don't know enough to do the same. Yep, what a freakin' infection control nightmare, indeed.

Enough rambling, thanks for seeing the big picture.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Might there be a page of reference that I can take in highlighted in order to obtain my chart. I started researching HIPPA, but have yet to find where these answers are spelled out in black and white. It's just too huge of an undertaking... not to mention the time it takes me to decipher lawyerese.

I acquired MRSA a month or so after I arrived on center - towards the end of May... whether it be from the infirmary, or the dormatory, the school building, bathrooms, staff, students... who knows. The only certainty is that it wasn't due to any break of aseptic technique during clinicals. My classroom training didn't start until July, and Clinicals began in August.

The issue is that it took around 8 months of fighting to obtain a culture to prove that it was MRSA, and find appropriate treatment. There are no labs to show it as MRSA from the start, or while caring for patients, up until the end of the 8 months. I was held back one day, while beginning the clindamycin, at which point I was released to return to clinical practice. Heck, I missed more clinical hours than that for pink eye! *rolls eyes*

I've never had an allergic reaction until I tried the Bactrim. Three days into therapy, the lesions were gone, but were replaced that night with hives. A simple allergy, and my first and only.

A1AD? I had to look that one up. Nope, not that I'm aware of. My lungs and liver are healthy. Why did you ask?

Thanks.

Pink eye?

The clinic should have release forms available for you so sign as well as instructions for obtaining this information. This site explains it and provides many links, perhaps you can contact them directly? http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs8-med.htm

About 12% of some populations have at least one varient gene and reduced levels of ATT especially after prolonged stress but normal levels during acute stress because it is an acute rectant. While the major medical conditions are lung and liver, it actually affects a number of systems including but not limited to your skin, vW factor VIII & XIa and immunity. Hypersensitivity may cause you to avoid many irritants or have drug reactions. Your reaction to the Bactrim may indicate hypersensitivity to sulfa and related drugs and may be acculumlative in nature, making finding successful Rx even more difficult. Panniculitis may develope much as you describe so it wouldn't hurt to contact the Alpha1 foundation for free and confidential testing to see if you are perhaps a varient.

I know of a person who's father died of liver disease and she somehow contracted Hep during her training as a LVN and couldn't prove where she got it even though it appeared to be on the job this lead to disabiltiy and a failed liver transplant, A1AD was later diagnosed in the family. http://www.alpha1advocacy.org/panniculitis_abstract.html the medication used to treat panniculitis may be contraindicated if you are sensitive to Bactrim. The Bactroban should still work even if you are sensitive to sulfa be careful though with most lotions or ointments as many contain sulfur and you may react. You may try to get some coconut oil for moisturizing as it has antibacterial qualities withoutmuch chance of reaction. Vitimin E may help. Be sure to wear flipflops in the showers.

Here are the A1AD links for free testing.
For more information on Alpha-1, please call the Alpha-1 Foundation toll-free at: 1-877-2 CURE A1 (or 1-877-228-7321)
Alpha 1 Association
8120 Penn Avenue South
Suite 549
Minneapolis, MN 55431--1326 USA
(952) 703-9979
(800) 521-3025
e-mail: AINA@alpha1.org
Home Page: http://www.alpha1.org

Alpha One Foundation
2937 SW 27th Ave
Suite 302
Miami, FL 33133 USA
(305) 567-9888
(888) 825-7421
e-mail: info@alphaone.org
Home Page: http://www.alphaone.org

 

[ellencee]

kjcclpn
The HIPAA Privacy Rule (the "Privacy Rule") requires covered entities (i.e., health plans, clearinghouses, and providers who transmit health information in electronic form in connection with a HIPAA covered transaction) to inform individuals of their right of access to inspect and obtain a copy of their protected health information ("PHI") in the individual's designated record set maintained by or for a covered entity. Generally, a designated record set consists of those records that contain health information, including billing information, about the individual.
HIPAAdvisory.com/Wares

I haven't answered the legality part of whether or not you can sue for damages. Obviously, medical professionals can be held liable for damages resulting from acts of negligence; it's the Federal Gov't. aspects for which I have no answer. Can you sue the Federal Gov't? Yes; it can be done. Can you sue the nurses and physicians of the clinic, individually? Yes; but, how it can be done when they are employees of such a clinic (government operated) is something I do not know. Perhaps our poster who is a former medmal defense attorney can answer that part of your quesion.

 

[kjcclpn]

Pink eye?

The clinic should have release forms available for you so sign as well as instructions for obtaining this information. This site explains it and provides many links, perhaps you can contact them directly? http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs8-med.htm

About 12% of some populations have at least one varient gene and reduced levels of ATT especially after prolonged stress but normal levels during acute stress because it is an acute rectant. While the major medical conditions are lung and liver, it actually affects a number of systems including but not limited to your skin, vW factor VIII & XIa and immunity. Hypersensitivity may cause you to avoid many irritants or have drug reactions. Your reaction to the Bactrim may indicate hypersensitivity to sulfa and related drugs and may be acculumlative in nature, making finding successful Rx even more difficult. Panniculitis may develope much as you describe so it wouldn't hurt to contact the Alpha1 foundation for free and confidential testing to see if you are perhaps a varient.

I know of a person who's father died of liver disease and she somehow contracted Hep during her training as a LVN and couldn't prove where she got it even though it appeared to be on the job this lead to disabiltiy and a failed liver transplant, A1AD was later diagnosed in the family. http://www.alpha1advocacy.org/panniculitis_abstract.html the medication used to treat panniculitis may be contraindicated if you are sensitive to Bactrim. The Bactroban should still work even if you are sensitive to sulfa be careful though with most lotions or ointments as many contain sulfur and you may react. You may try to get some coconut oil for moisturizing as it has antibacterial qualities withoutmuch chance of reaction. Vitimin E may help. Be sure to wear flipflops in the showers.

Here are the A1AD links for free testing.
For more information on Alpha-1, please call the Alpha-1 Foundation toll-free at: 1-877-2 CURE A1 (or 1-877-228-7321)
Alpha 1 Association
8120 Penn Avenue South
Suite 549
Minneapolis, MN 55431--1326 USA
(952) 703-9979
(800) 521-3025
e-mail: AINA@alpha1.org
Home Page: http://www.alpha1.org

Alpha One Foundation
2937 SW 27th Ave
Suite 302
Miami, FL 33133 USA
(305) 567-9888
(888) 825-7421
e-mail: info@alphaone.org
Home Page: http://www.alphaone.org

Yeah, my classmate's daughter came home with pink eye, and it started it's LPN rounds. Actually, I have a conjunctivitis right now too, but it's not pink, just swollen. Probably more like MRSAeye... it occurs with each break out. Makes me fear where else this will try to travel.

Free testing sounds good. Better safe than sorry. My breakouts did get worse with stress, without regard to where I was in my antibiotic rotation. But I figure that to be related to the lack of sleep, inadequate nutrition of the bootcamp-style dining hall, and any body's weakened immunity under times of stress. However, the episodes that caused my scars all came with stressful events... including semmester grade reports, graduation of my closest friends, and a period of battling my ADA claim with the infirmary (that's should be a thread of it's own... but too late to do anything now).

Actually, the infirmary sent me out for 3 gtt's to test me for diabetes and insulin resistance due to my tendency toward and recurrence of infections and difficulty healing. They came back fine. The doc could pay for that, but not for a C&S??? Anyway, maybe A1AD deserves a looksee.

I'll look into coconut oil too, if they let me bring it on center. It's crazy what they ban around here... nothing with alcohol of course, including mouthwash. Heck, I've been sneaking multivitamins on center.... yet another "unnecessary measure" according to our doctor. Not only will he not prescribe them but if found, security will toss them and write me up. *rolls eyes* But I've been healing a little better since I started them, and it's worth it.

Oh, and shower shoes are a ride or die necessity... no shoes, no shower! I clean them down one a week with alcohol swabs from class. This place is making a germaphobe of me.... why can I see myself starring in an episode of Monk once I get out of here!

I take it this is the type of panniculitis you refer to... this is exactly what it looks like. http://www.dermnetnz.org/vascular/erythema-nodosum.html

Well, I fought my way into a dermatology appt tomorrow, so we'll see if she continues the bactroban or goes for something else. I'm just so relieved to go that I'm giddy. Thanks for all the links... I'll be networking and researching my bottom off tomorrow... happily.

 

[kjcclpn]

kjcclpn
The HIPAA Privacy Rule (the "Privacy Rule") requires covered entities (i.e., health plans, clearinghouses, and providers who transmit health information in electronic form in connection with a HIPAA covered transaction) to inform individuals of their right of access to inspect and obtain a copy of their protected health information ("PHI") in the individual's designated record set maintained by or for a covered entity. Generally, a designated record set consists of those records that contain health information, including billing information, about the individual.
HIPAAdvisory.com/Wares

I haven't answered the legality part of whether or not you can sue for damages. Obviously, medical professionals can be held liable for damages resulting from acts of negligence; it's the Federal Gov't. aspects for which I have no answer. Can you sue the Federal Gov't? Yes; it can be done. Can you sue the nurses and physicians of the clinic, individually? Yes; but, how it can be done when they are employees of such a clinic (government operated) is something I do not know. Perhaps our poster who is a former medmal defense attorney can answer that part of your quesion.

Thank you for the HIPPA info. Who to sue and what to sue for were the questions that caused me to lose hope and drop the battle the first time around. I've been present during DOL reviews and MTC reviews... and pretty much they buy the razzle dazzle. Personally, I believe they are ill-informed regarding how this center and the infirmary are run. Therefore, suing them seems inappropriate to me... not to mention too large of an undertaking. In my opinion, it would be the director of the infirmary that should answer. But how this lies within legality is beyond me.

So, should I aim for a free consultation somewhere around here for this? I haven't the money to put forth anyway. How might I get said former medmal attorney to take a look at all of this? I appreciate all help.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Yeah, my classmate's daughter came home with pink eye, and it started it's LPN rounds. Actually, I have a conjunctivitis right now too, but it's not pink, just swollen. Probably more like MRSAeye... it occurs with each break out. Makes me fear where else this will try to travel.

Free testing sounds good. Better safe than sorry. My breakouts did get worse with stress, without regard to where I was in my antibiotic rotation. But I figure that to be related to the lack of sleep, inadequate nutrition of the bootcamp-style dining hall, and any body's weakened immunity under times of stress. However, the episodes that caused my scars all came with stressful events... including semmester grade reports, graduation of my closest friends, and a period of battling my ADA claim with the infirmary (that's should be a thread of it's own... but too late to do anything now).

Actually, the infirmary sent me out for 3 gtt's to test me for diabetes and insulin resistance due to my tendency toward and recurrence of infections and difficulty healing. They came back fine. The doc could pay for that, but not for a C&S??? Anyway, maybe A1AD deserves a looksee.

I'll look into coconut oil too, if they let me bring it on center. It's crazy what they ban around here... nothing with alcohol of course, including mouthwash. Heck, I've been sneaking multivitamins on center.... yet another "unnecessary measure" according to our doctor. Not only will he not prescribe them but if found, security will toss them and write me up. *rolls eyes* But I've been healing a little better since I started them, and it's worth it.

Oh, and shower shoes are a ride or die necessity... no shoes, no shower! I clean them down one a week with alcohol swabs from class. This place is making a germaphobe of me.... why can I see myself starring in an episode of Monk once I get out of here!

I take it this is the type of panniculitis you refer to... this is exactly what it looks like. http://www.dermnetnz.org/vascular/erythema-nodosum.html

Well, I fought my way into a dermatology appt tomorrow, so we'll see if she continues the bactroban or goes for something else. I'm just so relieved to go that I'm giddy. Thanks for all the links... I'll be networking and researching my bottom off tomorrow... happily.

Uh, My kids when they were in the military were told in their manual to urinate on their feet in the shower to help ward off fungal infections, I don't know if it works or not pure virgin Coconut oil can be found in the cooking oil asile of any good health food or upsacle store, also over the internet, it can be stored at room temp and can be used in place of butter or as maccraoon cookies, it helps cure many stress related illnesses.

If you turn out to have a form of A1AD vit E may help raise serum levels, if you read the testing info you will see the genetic testing is the gold standard. Ask the dermatologist re panniculitis it is nasty stuff. ALso it can occur from reactions to sulfa Rx and pink eye may also be present.

If these are gov DOC/RNs I believe there is some immunity it came up over on the military forum recently.

 

[kjcclpn]

Uh, My kids when they were in the military were told in their manual to urinate on their feet in the shower to help ward off fungal infections, I don't know if it works or not pure virgin Coconut oil can be found in the cooking oil asile of any good health food or upsacle store, also over the internet, it can be stored at room temp and can be used in place of butter or as maccraoon cookies, it helps cure many stress related illnesses.

If you turn out to have a form of A1AD vit E may help raise serum levels, if you read the testing info you will see the genetic testing is the gold standard. Ask the dermatologist re panniculitis it is nasty stuff. ALso it can occur from reactions to sulfa Rx and pink eye may also be present.

If these are gov DOC/RNs I believe there is some immunity it came up over on the military forum recently.

Ooops, whizzed and showered before reading this. Maybe next time. OMG... I'd better be careful before I pass that playful tidbit of info on. I can see some of the students from other countries/cultures trying it. lol.

This DOL job corps campus is out in the sticks. There's not a lot of upscale anything until you get to WilkesBarre. So walmart won't have pure virgin coconut oil? Maybe I can have a friend of mine send it to me from FL.

I'll ask about panniculitis. This poor doc, I have so many questions for her. I'm really concerned about how to get a job, being that I take my NCLEX soon and will return home to find a job.

Job Corps is a government funded program, but it's not military or anything. Different parts of the center have different goals, from getting highschool dropouts their GEDs to vocational trades to our neck of the woods (LPN and community college). The doctor and nurses are local and work for the center under a contract with Management Training Cooporation, the company that the Dept of Labor pays to manage it. Staff there are hired just as any clinic would be. I hope there isn't immunity there.

It's the fact that we live off of a budget by DOL (who doesn't manage us and therefore doesn't have much of a clue as to what's going on) that brings in the military style. Aged, poorly maintained, tight, overpopulated living quarters (4-8 girls in an average size bedroom, via military bunks). Inexpensive starch and fat filled cheap food (gotta love that white rice & gravy). Limited staff and medical means to fill demand. And red tape to boot to ward off any timely progression for positive change.

That sounds sad, but no one has to be here. We all chose to come, it's free education... that's why I came. And despite military rules, regs, and quarters, I wouldn't have a gripe in the world had I left here without scars and without an active infection that I fear will keep me from working in the field I just studied for the last 13 months.

Well, that and my instructors taught me too well. I seem to be observing more of the big picture than the upper level staff think I should. I just don't see how they don't recognize the risk of this situation.

Oh, well, at least there's no PT... not that I couldn't use it, but more that I couldn't survive it.

PS... found out that one of my RA's has had boild for years, they've never cultured it. Keep her on Keflex. She just had a break out. Maybe she's our source? I begged her to demand a C&S, explaining the big picture of how med resistance comes about and what it could do to the area, our program, our students and clients. Geesh, doesn't anyone question anything around here!?!

 

[rmet4nzkx]

If you order virgin coconut oil on the internet you can get it past the guards
When I was kid it was white bread with gravy poured over it. Now I rarely eat bread.

 

[kjcclpn]

If you order virgin coconut oil on the internet you can get it past the guards
When I was kid it was white bread with gravy poured over it. Now I rarely eat bread.

Actually, they go through our mail. All contra ban goes to security or the infirmary. lol. White bread and gravy... sheesh... I'll take rice.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Actually, they go through our mail. All contra ban goes to security or the infirmary. lol. White bread and gravy... sheesh... I'll take rice.

lol, My mother grew up during the depression, she loved gravy on bread.
Would coconut oil be contraban?

How did it go at the doc's.

 

[kjcclpn]

lol, My mother grew up during the depression, she loved gravy on bread.
Would coconut oil be contraban?

How did it go at the doc's.

I'm sure that gravy on bread was well appreciated during the depression. I take so much for granted. Even in the poorest of days, I had cheese sandwiches and hotdogs. You know those modern poorboy specials. Everyone has their favorite I guess.

I was told coconut oil wouldn't be banned, they just wanted to know what it would be used for... they were leary at first. lol.

Dermadoc did the I&D and rushed the C&S, so results should be back before the weekend. If it proves to be MRSA we'll have to look at what further tests are needed, and methods of containment. I just went to the store for supplies... extra washcloths and towels, clorox spray, gloves, hand sanitizer, gauze, antibacterial body wash... all the goodies from last time. Thanks for asking.