Wetting A Finger

There is a new sign up at work. It tells us not to lick or spit on our fingers at work. Amazingly enough, that is becoming a problem.

Our pyxis machine, which holds our medications, will not open unless our fingerprints match its records. It will not read our fingerprints if our fingers are bone dry. We have become desperate in our attempts to moisten our fingers so that the damn drawers will open. We all have our own ways of getting a finger wet.

If I'm anxious, rubbing my finger against the palm of my hand will work. If my palms aren't sweaty enough, then a quick wipe on my forehead or nose will do the trick. This is one of the few times that oily skin is a blessing.

Other people have resorted to licking their finger or spitting on it. We wouldn't really care, except that then their spit gets all over the machine and who wants to touch nurse spit?

They want us to use either alcohol wipes or moisturizer to moisten our finger. We don't like alcohol because it dries out our skin. We don't like moisturizer because it leaves a white gooey substance behind that has to be removed with alcohol.

I'm going to continue to use sweat or facial oil to get my meds. Nursing just keeps getting dirtier and dirtier.