Contracting diseases?

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Are you worried about contracting a disease such as, AIDS or TB? Obviously you take the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe, but there is always that risk. How rare or common is it? I always wanted to be a neonatal nurse so I bet there is a less chance of catching something like HIV or TB because they're just babies, right?

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I'm not really worried about it. I practice good hand hygiene and use appropriate PPE. I just had my yearly TB test, and it came back negative.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Babies come out of mothers that are carry who knows what! When I go to deliveries, I not only wear gloves, but I gown up, too!

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

From what I have seen babies secrete more bodily fluids than adults and they give you minimal warning if any.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I don't worry about it much. But I had a 7 month old come in last night with meningococemia (sp?) and even though I wore a mask, gloves, and gown I was still a tad bit nervous. I came home and stripped off in the garage and went straight for a shower....

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Specializes in ED.

I think there is almost less chance of contracting diseases at work then in the grocery store. At least when I'm at work, I know what people are there for, and can use appropriate precautions. At the grocery store you have no clue if the guy in line behind you has TB or the little old lady handling the produce is MRSA or if the shopping cart you are pushing was last used by someone with VRE. So I actually feel safer at work.

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Specializes in ICU.

yes, in a hospital there is a high risk, but you have just as much risk contracting tb on the bus or train where people cough and don't cover their mouths

i try not to dwell on what can be transmitted - i always use the necessary precautions and am careful to protect me and my pt.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I will agree w/ the poster who says babies give little to no warning. I have been barfed on, peed on, pooped on, and bled on way more in the nursery than I ever did/do working the floor.

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The most dangerous part of my day is crossing the street and driving home.

Use your PPD, get your vaccinations and drive safely.

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Specializes in A little of this & a little of that.
From what I have seen babies secrete more bodily fluids than adults and they give you minimal warning if any.

:yeahthat:

I also worry more when I'm not at work. At work you take precautions for everyone all the time. Out in public you meet all those pathogens without protection. Newborns have whatever their mothers gave them and you just don't know what all that might be.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

I worry more in public, too. And doctor's offices, YICK!

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Thanks guys. I came to this very same conclusion before I came on here and read all the answers. I could easily get TB from going on a plane or have someone cough and sneeze in my face in any public setting or job setting. The only difference is you're aware of who has what at the hospital. That really shouldn't stop me from my dream because of what "could" happen. I feel better! Thanks again.

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