Preparing for your shift during COVID-19

We know that working in environments where COVID-19 is present is a worry for most nurses. We’ve sourced some of the popular tips and tricks we’ve found online, to keep you shielded.

What you’ll need to make the most of these top tips:

• An old pillowcase
• A black bag
• Surgical gloves
• A plastic box that can be sealed tight
• An old t-shirt
• Cling film
• Miniature hand sanitiser

Before you leave the house

• Put on casual clothes and bring your uniform and work shoes in a separate bag. Do not wear your uniform travelling to work.
• Pack a miniature hand gel to use in case you need to sanitise your hands
• If you have long hair, prepare your hair in a neat bun. If you have a fringe, clip this back or wear an Alice Band.
• Wrap your mobile phone and ID badge in cling film. See a handy demo here.

Arriving at the hospital

• Where possible, wear surgical gloves the moment you leave your car and walking through the hospital until you reach your designated ward 
• Get changed into your work clothes using on site changing facilities

On shift

• Protect your ears from the elastic straps on a facemask by using a strip of material from an old t-shirt. Loop it through the mask to protect your ears. Check out this demo here  
• If you’re wearing your hair in two neat buns, then you can loop the mask around each bun! Check out this demo here

Leaving work

• At the end of your shift use on site changing facilities to change back into the casual clothes you wore on the way to work. Throw your uniform into an old pillow case and then into a black bag. Tie the bag tight, wash your hands and make your way outside.
• When you get into the car, place your work shoes into a plastic box and seal. Leave your shoes in your car until your next shift.
• As soon as you get home, take the pillow case full of work clothes out of the black bag and put it straight into the machine, pushing the clothes out of the pillow case from the bottom. Throw the pillow case into the machine and place on a hot wash.
• Make your way to the shower and remember to wash your hair.
• Avoid sitting down or hugging loved ones until you have showered.
• Remove the cling film from your mobile phone and lanyard and wipe them over with an antibacterial wipe, remembering to clean the lanyard too.