I like my job. I really do. I work in critical care at a large, well-known, awesome hospital. This is my first job out of nursing school and I have been working there for about 16 months. Unfortunately, I have pretty bad allergic contact dermatitis at my job. I have gone to a dermatologist that specializes in this and have figured out what I am allergic to. I started using new gloves and different soap, and while it worked for maybe a month, my hands are right back to where they were at the end of a shift: red, chapped, cracked, and they BURN so bad. And unfortunately, it doesn't just go away overnight. No lotion, cream, soap, glove, nothing seems to work to prevent this anymore.
The last thing I would want to do is leave my job, but I am at a point where this is really affecting my quality of life. I know this field is so diverse and there are areas of nursing that do not require so much hand washing and glove use as bedside nursing does, but with only being a nurse for 16 months, what are my options?
Your advice and just listening to me rant are kindly appreciated. Truly! Thank you.
