[Allioop]

When I first started college someone recommended I try nursing. I put it off for two years because I was not sure I could handle body fluids, death, and disease. While enough time has gone by during my "basic education" courses that I now feel comfortable (enough) with body fluids and death, I'm still very concerned about contracting diseases.

How safe is nursing for the nurses?

[purplemania]

If you have a lot of phobias you ought to talk to a psychologist or therapist because life is full of problems and you need to learn how to deal with them regardless of whether you are a nurse or not. As for safety, not a lot. The important thing is that nurses are educated to avoid or prevent most exposures to disease. We have equipment to help us. We know Joe Blow has a contagious disease and take precautions. But when he is walking around the grocery, everyone there does not know and are not taking precautions. I recommend you talk to an infection control nurse (all hospitals have at least one).

[SusanJean]

Originally Posted by purplemania

If you have a lot of phobias you ought to talk to a psychologist or therapist because life is full of problems and you need to learn how to deal with them regardless of whether you are a nurse or not. As for safety, not a lot. The important thing is that nurses are educated to avoid or prevent most exposures to disease. We have equipment to help us. We know Joe Blow has a contagious disease and take precautions. But when he is walking around the grocery, everyone there does not know and are not taking precautions. I recommend you talk to an infection control nurse (all hospitals have at least one).

Also, your body has an immune system that is incredible. Granted, it will not take care of the real bad stuff, but for the everyday germs, sure.
Have you had micro yet? Those little buggers are everywhere...

[Jessy_RN]

Originally Posted by Allioop

When I first started college someone recommended I try nursing. I put it off for two years because I was not sure I could handle body fluids, death, and disease. While enough time has gone by during my "basic education" courses that I now feel comfortable (enough) with body fluids and death, I'm still very concerned about contracting diseases.

How safe is nursing for the nurses?

Are you maybe having second thoughts about your career move? As for safety, just breathing now days is a risk. You will be taught safety and how to take universal precautions and diminish the risk of contracting a disease. I am willing to bet that with an adequate education, and you doing your part, you will be fine

Good lcuk