Safety glasses

I'm in my first year of an arts/nursing degree, and in my last human biology prac we were typing human blood. The demonstrator told us to wear safety glasses, as getting blood in the eye was 'the worst place we could get it'. I asked her if that was the case why nurses didn't wear safety glasses as it seemed to me (especially after reading some posts here ) that they would be exposed to a reasonable amount of splattering of bodily fluids. She said that she thought that nurses would be wearing them within the next five years, when OH&S 'caught up'.

I was just wondering if any of you wear safety glasses where you work, and if not, have you ever felt like you would have liked to?
I have often felt the need for safety glasses dont always wear them but was thinking about starting. I notice when using retractable needles you get blood splatter. So often when removing the needle before I press to retract I close my eyes cause dont have glasses on. Always would have to say on the two rare times I irrigated the bladder I got some splatter too. So your right there is a risk of splatter and having been thinking of getting some glasses since I dont see any on the unit. AngelaJust one more ugly thing to wear but it can be helpful.......I hated glasses since I was a kid.............guess I will have to get over it for my own good......hehe

Quote from angelique777Just one more ugly thing to wear but it can be helpful.......I hated glasses since I was a kid.............guess I will have to get over it for my own good......hehe

We wore face shields when I worked in Dialysis..cause your chances of getting "hit" were pretty good!! Now it is pretty rare that I even come close to getting splashed where I am now. The problem is by the time you "think" it might happen it is usually to late and you are already hit. Maybe not a bad idea to have for more "invasive" procedures.

I wear glasses when doing endotracheal suctioning, extubating, stripping the haemo machines, removing chest drains... thats about it. Although I got a face full of transfusion blood the other day when disconnecting a line with a bionector connection; I wouldn't usually wear glasses in that instance and luckily didn't go anywhere near my eyes or mouth. I think it's basically up to us, my unit provides unlimited numbers of them so it is up to us to use them or not.

The use of safety glasses/goggles or face shields is common in the OR and in deliveries where splashing of amniotic fluid and blood (especially when the cord is cut) is common.

A patient spit a droplet in my eye two years ago. He didnt even know he had done it. Nonetheless, i went out and bought a pair of glasses with no prescription in the lenses to wear at work. They arent big nor actual safety glasses.....They just look like a regular pair of glasses, and i get the same protection that those who have prescription glasses receive. I felt like this was a great idea that all nurses should adopt. Though i have only gotten spit in my eye once in nearly 17 years, once could be one time too many!

Hey guys - I'm in my last semester of nursing school (graduate in May - yay!) and just today I had blood splashed directly into my eyes while a surgeon was suturing a woman's uterus following a c-section. I was standing a full 6-7 feet away from the table and didn't think it was necessary to have anything more than a mask covering my face. I tell you what, I have learned my lesson. Luckily the pt was negative for any blood-born pathogens but I am already looking for safety glasses to have on me from now on. Who cares what anybody else thinks about how you look or what you're doing - it's YOUR'S and your family's safety so do whatever you need to.