Shadowing while sick - etiquette?

[narla_hotep]

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[HomeSkool]

I'm signed up to shadow trauma surgeons in the ER for an overnight shift tomorrow night (not scrubbing in on surgeries, just observing procedures), but today I've come down with a bad cold and currently have a low grade fever. I'd hate to cancel on such short notice, but would it be rude to shadow while sick if I'm coughing or sneezing? Obviously I'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow and take a bunch of cold medicine if I'm going, but I don't want to endanger patients or make doctors think I'm inconsiderate. What do you think?

If you're febrile, don't go. Otherwise, take some medicine and play it by ear - if you're feeling well enough to keep up, then this will be valuable experience.

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[CloverBale]

Is there anyway you can reschedule your shadowing experience? If you could, I'd honestly reschedule.

But if for some reason you have to go, I'd recommend wearing a face mask (I'm sure you can ask one from a nurse) and to keep your hands clean. Just try not to touch anything lol.

 

[de Ribas]

I'm signed up to shadow trauma surgeons in the ER for an overnight shift tomorrow night (not scrubbing in on surgeries, just observing procedures), but today I've come down with a bad cold and currently have a low grade fever. I'd hate to cancel on such short notice, but would it be rude to shadow while sick if I'm coughing or sneezing? Obviously I'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow and take a bunch of cold medicine if I'm going, but I don't want to endanger patients or make doctors think I'm inconsiderate. What do you think?

1.Take some cold medicine.
2. If you cough here and there - def. wear a mask.
3. If you are very sick (fever, cough a lot, weak) - take a rest and get well.

4. Reschedule - everyone understands.

 

[Welshman]

It really shouldn't be hard to reschedule, the hard part is getting the opportunity, would you care if a someone followed you around on Thursday instead of Monday? C'est rien

 

[getdown]

if you have a low grade fever don't go. You're just risking getting patient's who are sick even sicker. It's the ER so there may be patients who are immunocompromised and you're walking around spreading bacteria so it's better to cancel than to possibly kill someone.

 

[Ibn Sina MD]

I'm signed up to shadow trauma surgeons in the ER for an overnight shift tomorrow night (not scrubbing in on surgeries, just observing procedures), but today I've come down with a bad cold and currently have a low grade fever. I'd hate to cancel on such short notice, but would it be rude to shadow while sick if I'm coughing or sneezing? Obviously I'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow and take a bunch of cold medicine if I'm going, but I don't want to endanger patients or make doctors think I'm inconsiderate. What do you think?

Don't go. Part of being a physician is being responsible. Exposing others in a hospital environment, individuals that may already have compromised immune systems, to extra pathogens is never a good idea.

Just call them and tell them you're sick. If they say "Just come in, we'll give you a mask" then go in and wear the mask.

If they say "No" ask to reschedule and reschedule.

 

[aldol16]

Contact the person you are shadowing and get their opinion. Ultimately, they are the ones responsible for you. In general, if you're going into the OR, you don't want to be sick - especially if your role isn't a necessary one.

 

[Catalystik]

I'm signed up to shadow trauma surgeons in the ER for an overnight shift tomorrow night (not scrubbing in on surgeries, just observing procedures), but today I've come down with a bad cold and currently have a low grade fever. I'd hate to cancel on such short notice, but would it be rude to shadow while sick if I'm coughing or sneezing? Obviously I'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow and take a bunch of cold medicine if I'm going, but I don't want to endanger patients or make doctors think I'm inconsiderate. What do you think?

I'm curious to know how you resolved your dilemma.

 

[narla_hotep]

I'm curious to know how you resolved your dilemma.

I ended up taking cold medicine and just going, because I felt better the next morning after posting this and didn't have a fever for the whole day leading up to it. It ended up ok because I was wearing a mask almost the whole time anyway (the trauma team was busy and I got to see a surgery). I wasn't really coughing because I took a cough suppressant and made sure to stay at the very back of the OR not touching or doing anything. And the other girl I was shadowing with needed to leave halfway through the night, so I quietly excused myself along with her.

It was a cool experience, ended up getting to see a leg amputation and repair of a giant arm laceration. Not saying others should go shadow while sick but it's definitely possible. Hopefully I didn't put any patients at risk from the way I handled it... Anyway one of the 3rd year medical students clearly had a cold too and he was at work. I know that's different bc he's on rotation but still.