Something really disgusting & terrible has started happening

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Birdstrike

Birdstrike

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People are wanting to shake hands again. Twice today! Two patients reached out with their hands. I recoiled inside, but reluctantly did it and now I regret it. I was never phobic about this before and I'm not worried about COVID at all. Just not having to do it for a year and a half, not getting a single virus, sniffle, GI bug or anything, has made it so I recoil at the thought.

What are people doing with these hands!?

I want my year of no handshakes, back.
 
A93FF551-DEDF-48E4-B620-636B6B299DEE.jpeg
 
Just say no you don’t do that for safety reasons
 
Birdstrike said:
People are wanting to shake hands again. Twice today! Two patients reached out with their hands. I recoiled inside, but reluctantly did it and now I regret it. I was never phobic about this before and I'm not worried about COVID at all. Just not having to do it for a year and a half, not getting a single virus, sniffle, GI bug or anything, has made it so I recoil at the thought.

What are people doing with these hands!?

I want my year of no handshakes, back.
Click to expand...
Offer an elbow or fist bump. If they don't get it or seem offended, just shrug and say "covid."
 
I've missed handshakes. It's such a deeply ingrained, familiar human tradition. I also feel triumphant against COVID when I see people feeling the freedom to start shaking hands again. Sure, it is a contact human gesture that is certain to spread "germs" but I don't care. I'm happy to shake anyone's hand and have abhorred the human interactions consisting of masked up barely recognizable faces with these little brief fist and elbow bumps. I had a pt other night in his 60s with end stage prostate cancer, good ol boy. When I admitted him, I knew I'd never see him again. He knew it too. I grasped his hand and shook it fiercely, with a measured gaze in his eyes and wished him good luck and told him it was a pleasure meeting him. That simple gesture meant a lot to me and I think it did to him also. Bring on the handshakes again.

I bet Purell is happy people are shaking hands again too.
 
In my real life I'm quite fond of hand shakes, but I haven't done them with patients in about 10 years, even before the pandemic.

The hospital is full of communicable diseases, why would I propagate them, seems like not handshaking is an easy way to break transmission.

From a nosocomial infection point of view handshakes seemed problematic to me even in the pre-covid world.
 
I did multiple high-fives with a patient the other day. He initiated them. He was a normal, very nice guy, and I earned the first one by correctly answering one of his many dad jokes. Worth it.
 
turkeyjerky said:
Wait....haven't you said that you don't wash your hands in public restrooms? 😏
Click to expand...
It's funny that you specifically remember he said that. I kind of remember the subject coming up in a thread a few months ago, but I couldn't have guessed who said what.
 
Cinclus said:
I did multiple high-fives with a patient the other day. He initiated them. He was a normal, very nice guy, and I earned the first one by correctly answering one of his many dad jokes. Worth it.
Click to expand...
Crazy, cuz I did multiple high fives with a patient the other day who said I'm a great doctor, he really appreciated me and all physicians do to help humankind. Actually, just kidding. That never happened.
 
I am hugging people again.

But they're usually not really hugs... they're more the deep wrenching sobs when the person they loved the most just died. I'm just a shoulder to cry on.
But I get to do that again and I don't mind. I usually don't get too much snot on me.

I find that if I'm carrying around a pile of stuff, charts, phones, pens, etc, I still avoid the handshakes. Don't mind avoiding that bit.
 
I used to shake hands every single time I saw a patient, and I would often shake most, if not all of the people in the room provided there weren't 10 family members. Seemed to help my rapport with patients and their families.

Now I just say hi, introduce myself, do a quick wave. If someone sticks out their hand for a hand shake, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I do a quick glance over to assess risk.

My handshaking has gown down at least 80% post COVID. I'm OK with it.
 
thegenius said:
I used to shake hands every single time I saw a patient, and I would often shake most, if not all of the people in the room provided there weren't 10 family members. Seemed to help my rapport with patients and their families.

Now I just say hi, introduce myself, do a quick wave. If someone sticks out their hand for a hand shake, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I do a quick glance over to assess risk.

My handshaking has gown down at least 80% post COVID. I'm OK with it.
Click to expand...

Yeah waste of time and gross to do. Not worth the time and effort for the possibility of a slight increase in Press-Ganey
 
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