By Ann Genovesi, RN,co- founder of Lily Martin Care

Editor’s Note: We love nurses, and find their everyday practical knowledge invaluable. So when we met Ann Genovesi at one of our weekly “Tomato Cocktail” zooms, and found out she is an RN, we all started asking her questions, which prompted this new column, “Ask a Nurse.”

What are nurses doing to protect themselves from Covid 19

Ann shared this with us early on in the pandemic, that in addition to all the standard safety precautions, her nurse friends in hospitals had concocted a Covid-19 Cocktail. (We especially like the shot of whiskey.)

The Nurses’ Covid 19 cocktail

• 100mg” vitamin c in the morning and evening with bread
• zinc in the afternoon
• lots of water all day
• and either a shot of apple cider vinegar or whiskey every day!

How can I get rid of a stye in my eye?

Styes are caused by bacteria from your skin (usually staphylococci bacteria) that gets into and irritates the oil glands in the eyelids. … many ways to treat, including antibiotics but if you want to try a home remedy first, here is one idea:

Place a used, warm, black tea bag (like Lipton) a few times a day. Use a different one each time.

What can I do for a bug bite or sting?

If you have a bug bite or get stung by something, and there is warmth and/or itching, swelling, here is a great home remedy to try before going to the doctor.:

Make a paste of baking soda and water and rub on area a few times a day. When it gets hard or itchy/uncomfortable, wash it off.

If either of these get worse, redder, hotter or itchier, or you start having trouble breathing or feel your tongue is swelling, please stop using and call a doctor.

Should I use bleach or vinegar as a disinfectant?

Vinegar can be used as a safer bleach alternative for some applications, such as cleaning, and can be effective against some bacteria and viruses, including the flu. It is also biodegradable. However, and does not kill dangerous bacteria like staphylococcus. 

Note: Do not mix vinegar and bleach. It can release a toxic chlorine gas.  

Ann Genovesi (pictured near left) has been an RN for almost 30 years. She has worked in many different fields of nursing. When she started having kids, she mostly did private duty and also worked with hospice for a few years. She and her best friend from 5th grade, a Social worker, started Lily Martin Care. It is a private concierge home care service to help families find caregivers and caregivers find families. They can help with companionship, aides, nursing, and more! Both Stephanie Chapman, LMSW and Ann Genovesi, RN were called to found Lily Martin Care because of personal experiences they had with their own families. Ann has many different tips for health care.