toxic nurse

Please, nurses, respond to the "toxic nurse" topic. Thanks.

I think this depends on whether or not you have a relationship with this "toxic nurse". If you do have good rapport with them, approach them with your concerns but frame your approach so you sound caring and not judgmental. Let them know you are worried about their health and the health of those that they contact at work - maybe recommend treatment to rid them of the problem. If you do not have a relationship with the nurse, speak with the nurse's supervisor and bring these concerns to light. I cannot imagine a nurse manager allowing a caregiver to work while infested. I also think that you have a responsibility to make this condition known to management if it is not already.

Good luck - this is a touchy situation but one that has to be addressed for the good of everyone's health.

I truly appreciate your reply and I have done my best to handle the situation with sensitivity. The individual is a very angry and disgruntled individual and I have, a month and a half ago, informed my superiors about this situation. Yes, I said a month and a half. In the meanwhile, the person has been amongst others personal space as well as around patients' and co-workers the entire time. The handling of the situation has been a slow process. Why, I do not understand and what has been done to remedy the situation has been highly hush hush. I know that this is an infectious disease process but I do not see any actions. It frustrates me to no end and it's not clear to me why immediate responses were not provided to this highly delicate situation. If you or anyone else know more, please share.

Maybe management feels that this is a sticky HR situation for them... I cannot fathom why they'd knowingly allow this to go on. How are other coworkers reacting to the situation?

Well, I do not understand their reaction and interventions to the situation myself but just 10 minutes ago, I found one of those bugs on me and I am very frustrated at this moment. I attempted to call the job to let them know that this has transpired and the lines were busy but I won't give up. So now what do I do because I do want to remain appropriate in my response but how do you remain "cool" in such a situation. It was inevitable for others to become affected by this and my turn has arrived.