We were discussing the Disneryland measles outbreak at work, and I was appalled to find some of my co-workers refuse to vaccinate their kids. They (grudgingly) receive the vaccines they need to remain employed, but doubt their safety/necessity for their kids.
I must say, I am absolutley stunned. How can one be a nurse and deny science?
As a nurse, you should darn well know what the scientific method entails and what phrases such as "evidence based" and "peer reviewed" mean.
I have to say, I have lost most of my respect for the nurses and mistrust their judgement; after all, if they deny science, on what premise are they basing their practices?
I'm an RN on a Med/Surg unit. When someone comes in with certain symptoms, we implement various precaution measures. Does it make you feel powerful to speak to me with disrespect? I get that impression. I have worked in this setting for almost 2 years, and have not been sick except for a cold once. It's because I wash my hands, wear proper precautions etc. I think some nurses have a lot to work on in the hand-washing area. They eat at the desk, touch the keyboard, then their mouths, never a thought to what they are doing.
I don't believe for a second that you can stay three feet away from all of your patients. Unless you're not doing your job right. How do you listen to lung sounds?
Also, I would just like to point out that while the flu might not be deadly to us, it very well could be for our patients.
As for handwashing, yes it works! I never got the flu vac and never will. I stay at least 3 feet away from those sick and don't touch my face. If you were interested to see data, you could find it. The flu is not a scary illness. How about heart disease or cancer? Those kill more people every year than the flu ever will.
These statements made by an "educated nurse" truly scare me, I'm so glad there are nurses on this forum who so eloquently addressed these ideas.
My hospital mandates the yearly flu vac. If you don't get it by the date, you are terminated the next day., no excuses. This is only going to become more common among hospitals....So be careful when you say " never got it, never will...", you may be unemployed in the very near future.
The reason people die is because of complications...not because of the flu itself. That article explains it clearly. Saying the flu kills 57,000 a year is an outrageously false statement. A scare tactic at best to get people to swarm in droves and put faith in a vaccine that just might protect you if the scientists guess the correct strains for the year. Even then, you might still get sick.
These statements made by an "educated nurse" truly scare me, I'm so glad there are nurses on this forum who so eloquently addressed these ideas.
My hospital mandates the yearly flu vac. If you don't get it by the date, you are terminated the next day., no excuses. This is only going to become more common among hospitals....So be careful when you say " never got it, never will...", you may be unemployed in the very near future.
It scares you? It scares me that some nurses are so close minded and don't understand different ways of doing things or not critically thinking about things. I never knew thinking critically meant doing things just because. I am a great nurse, and I advocate for my patients. I care about their health, and I will make darn sure they know the risks before they do anything.
As for the mandated flu vaccine, I have the option to wear a mask the entire flu season, which I will gladly accept. If it comes to me losing my job, so be it. It's a shame that companies and the government are trying to force people into medical issues that they do not agree with. It's my body, not theirs. Patient's have the right to refuse vaccines but nurses don't in the workplace? That is not right. It's slippery slope we are journeying down, and I truly fear the future. When we have no choice. Our country is turning into a communist country where we will eventually have no choice. It's truly a shame.
The reason people die is because of complications...not because of the flu itself. That article explains it clearly. Saying the flu kills 57,000 a year is an outrageously false statement. A scare tactic at best to get people to swarm in droves and put faith in a vaccine that just might protect you if the scientists guess the correct strains for the year. Even then, you might still get sick.
When talking about mortality you can't separate out complications. Influenza is a respiratory virus and the complication of bacterial pneumonia secondary to influenza infection is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality associated with the illness. Complications don't happen without the insult illness. If you want to separate out complications than "cancer deaths" is going to drop to about zero.
The flu vaccine is designed to prevent pandemic infection. The efficacy is less than other vaccines but it remains much more successful in primary prevention than hand washing.
Part of the problem is that you don't understand what you read; you look for evidence to support a choice you already made. That is pseudoscience.
That's pretty funny. If you read previous posts, you would see that I wear a mask when working with patients that have respiratory issues.
As for everything else you have posted, I still disagree. You don't choose to look into anything else or see things from a different angle. That's fine. I'm not here to convince you. I'm here to stand up and speak about how I see things, and maybe that will get someone else thinking.
That's pretty funny. If you read previous posts, you would see that I wear a mask when working with patients that have respiratory issues.
As for everything else you have posted, I still disagree. You don't choose to look into anything else or see things from a different angle. That's fine. I'm not here to convince you. I'm here to stand up and speak about how I see things, and maybe that will get someone else thinking.
You have yet to share any of your scientific data/evidence! Please share it, we are waiting!
The reason people die is because of complications...not because of the flu itself. That article explains it clearly. Saying the flu kills 57,000 a year is an outrageously false statement. A scare tactic at best to get people to swarm in droves and put faith in a vaccine that just might protect you if the scientists guess the correct strains for the year. Even then, you might still get sick.
By that logic, we can say AIDS isn't deadly at all!
it gave the visuals AND the numbers/specs about airborne clouds and droplets. Thank you!
Horseshoe, BSN, RN
5,879 Posts
^^^I almost want to re-register under a different name just so I can like that post twice.