Avoid getting sick while working in a clinic??

[anh06005]

I'm in my MSN program and EVERY semester have come down with horrible sinus infection or cold. Before clinicals I seemed to have my rhinitis (vasomotor) somewhat under control but NO MORE. Currently battling what is at least my fourth URI this year (likely another 1 or 2 in there) and only thing I know that's changed is I'm working in clinics where people bring every viral illness in.

I wash my hands. I use hand sanitizer constantly. I take a good multivitamin.

What seems to help you? Or is this something new people to clinics go through?

[LoyalWeim]

Uggh, that sounds awful! Get well anh06005!

Regards,

LW

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

I have rheumatoid arthritis, allergies and chronic asthma, all developed as an adult. I was really worried about nursing school because of the amount of corticosteroids I was taking.

I'm not advocating this as medical advice, but here is what worked for me.... (Purely anecdotal!)

After I totally PO'd my rheumatologist by suggesting this (lol) I went off the corticosteroids 6 months before starting clinicals, (other than my inhaled one for asthma control) and started trying to rehab my immune system. I try to eat foods that promote reduced inflammation - for me, I avoid commercially produced meat and white, processed foods. I do eat gluten, but I'm a vegetarian so I use whole grains as a source of protein and iron. I juice veggies and second the probiotic advice; I also started faithfully practicing yoga. I supplement my Omegas with flax seed in my oatmeal and fish oil capsules daily and I increased consumption of fermented foods and Kombucha. My first two semesters I got sick once each, but no asthma hospitalizations. I even made it through RSV season on peds. I know this is tough as a nursing student, but I make a point to really sleep on my days off too. All in all, I lost about 40 pounds in 18months. That couldn't hurt in my case, that's for sure! I wasn't massively overweight, but the prednisone had taken its toll.

On thing I absolutely LOVE is Emergen-C powder. I put it in water and juice. I replaced my mid-shift coffee (I do still drink some coffee but cut back a bit) with a double dose in my water bottle. The B vitamins in it give me a great energy boost, and it seems to keep my immune system up and functioning well. I take a good whole foods based liquid multi vitamin called Source of Life that I really like as well, once daily. For my final two semesters, I havent been sick at all. I totally second the advice about whole foods and eliminating potential allergens! I hope you get to feeling better!! Sounds totally miserable.

(My AN app is acting up so please forgive typos or formatting weirdness!)

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

[LoyalWeim]

Well-said (and done!) kalycat! I am on a continual quest to try and improve my diet as you have. I agree pretty much 100% with what you said except I cannot comment on the Emergen-C or the particular multi-vitamin. But overall, yup!

Oh, and I have wanted for some time to take up Yoga myself. I have no doubt that it would help... if only I could get my butt in gear and DO IT!

Regards,

LW