clintswan | Jan. 22nd, 2003

Attended an infection control town hall meeting this morning.
It was very informative as to small pox and vaccinations.
As an ER worker you would think they would want to ask ALL workers
if they want to vaccinated.

NOT.

I work at triage sometimes and I am the first person to meet the
patients and unwrap/unswaddle them. I get coughed/snarked on all
the time. Not to mention I hold children for procedures and do procedures on children all the time. Small pox is droplet and contact transmitted.

HELLO!?!?! That means me, basically.

However, my facility deems my position (pediatric emergency technician) not up for the vaccination.

Needless to say, I was upset.

I understand that one can become vaccinated up to 4 days AFTER
exposure and be immunized.....BUT that data is up to 60 years old!

I think I may have to ruffle a few feathers...Texas Department of Health perhaps?

Knowing the way the State honors my position in the healthcare
system.....nothing will prolly become of this.

It still upsets me.

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Last night I was one of the people in charge. We had a terrible night.
The waiting room was packed and the patients were very, very sick.
Two diabetics that were trying to gork out (one was intubated and
sent to an ICU in Austin, the other had to be transfered to
Medical City's ICU here in Dallas)

I started my shift at 1900, yet we couldn't pull back the
regular level 3 patients until 2330!!!

Every time I turned around another level 2 patient checked in!!!

fuuuuuuck

I am still wired for sound fro last night I cannot get to sleep.

I think I am beginning to have sleep problems due to work....maybe
I am joining