subject: Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nursing Students in Bay Area, CA [print this page] Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nursing Students in Bay Area, CA
When a licensed vocational nursing (LVNs) student or in most cases doctors or even registered nurses (RNs) applies preventative measures towards themselves they have an obligation to educate family members, clients and co-workers.
How can I protect my family if I have Tuberculosis? The most important thing to remember if you have TB disease of the throat or lungs is to take all your medications exactly as ordered by your healthcare provider. Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough, sneeze, or laugh. Throw the tissue away immediately in a closed bag. Sleep in a bedroom away from other family members until the medications have taken effect, usually 2 to 3 weeks and air out your room often. A fan in the window blowing air out (exhaust) will decrease TB germs in the room.
People with Tb can infect someone with whom they spend time every day. This is the reason that health care workers are routinely tested for TB at least once a year. They come in contact with many people who are possible sources of TB infection. Have everyone who was in close contact with you before you started the medication, tested for TB infection.
I am afraid I may forget to take the medication exactly the way the doctor told me. It is very important that you have written directions on how your healthcare provider wants you to take the medications. This is the first step in remembering to take the medications as ordered. As with any medication that you may need to take regularly, you will be most successful if you develop a routine around taking the medication. For example, take your pills at the same time every day. You can set an alarm on your cell phone, or just take them with breakfast or when you have your morning coffee. You may ask a family member or friend to remind you or to check and see if you have taken your pills that day. If you prepare the medication at the beginning of the week in a pill dispenser, you will be able to easily see if you took your pills every day. You can also place a mark on your calendar each day to indicate that you remembered to take your pills. If you miss a day, follow the instructions given to you by your healthcare provider about a missed dose. Usually you will be told to skip the missed day and take the pills again at the next scheduled time.
If you do not trust that you can take the pills regularly on your own, or if you notice that you are missing doses often, notify your healthcare provider. There is a service available in most your communities (Directly Observed Therapy or DOT) where you meet with a healthcare worker every day, or a few times a your home or a community center, your work or a TB clinic. You take the medication during this brief meeting while the healthcare worker watches.
Remember, awareness is the first step in treatment and prevention of global TB disease. This shoutout goes to all of the LVNs, RNs, Doctors and the proud and best nursing programs not only in the Bay Area, CA which is one of the hottest nursing education hubs but nationally to health care institutions.
