Lolz nurse. Gloves for rectals and invasive stuff, wipe down your steth with alcohol wipes. It's primary clinic.
Is calling me "nurse" supposed to be disparaging? Are you that lame in your point of view that you need to call on "rank" (of which you have none) to justify yourself? Put on some big boy pants and be real. Hands carry pathogens. In the hospital and in the community/outpatient clinic. Washing hands significantly helps to disrupt the number one mode of transmission of pathogens. Well documented evidence. Go Pubmed yourself if you need to.
If you object to questioning the practices of a "superior". I get it, uncomfortable dilemma. But don't act like going from patient to patient, putting your hands on their body, and then moving on to the next one without washing your hands (unless you had your finger up their *sshole) is good medicine. Don't like hearing that from a nurse? Boo hoo. My heart is so broken. Try and sell your "not washing is not a big deal" theory to YOUR superiors, your PATIENTS, the QUALITY/RISK MANAGEMENT department of the hospitals they let you run around in. Tell me how well that goes for you.
What peril? The subpar doctor doesn't invite him back to shadow? Oh noez! Nobody likes a knowitall dipsh*t, but people respect someone that has a spine and stands up for the right thing.
They do live in the community and on you too. I hope you wash your hands everytime you shake someones hands or touch an object in a new room.
I wash my hands or use Purell everytime I enter a patient's room and every time I leave. Between when I touch the computer and the patient, after I go to the bathroom, before I eat, etc. I don't wash/Purell everytime I shake someone's hand no, but you can bet I'd be doing so if I did that right before examining someone's eyes, nose, mouth, etc. It is evidence based practice.
PCP > premed
He knows what he is doing. Tell him off, and you'll be gone.
I would NEVER question a physician. I might ask questions because I am curious, but not on anything like that.
Is it weird, yes. But he is in charge
Dude, you don't need to "tell someone off" to raise a concern. It doesn't need to be an accusation. Are YOUR social skills so poor that all you have is silent gutlessness or impertinence? There are respectful ways to raise a concern.
As a nurse, do I raise concerns with the physicians (or nurses, or RTs, etc.) I work with? Yes. It's my responsibility. Am I respectful and professional about it? Of course.
My PCP never washes his hands either, nor did the family doctor I shadowed. Worst thing is my PCP works A LOT with HIV patients and he himself is sick a lot. I find that kinda disturbing.
And you trust your health with this person because?..... Really?... I don't know what to say. If my doctor or my kids' pediatrician did not wash their hands, that would be a deal breaker for me. It really blows my mind that some people are so cavalier about it. I can actually understand a nervous premed afraid to speak up, but to put yourself at risk for contracting pink eye at best..... just incredible....
