Contracting diseases?

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.

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!

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

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....

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.

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.

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

Use your PPD, get your vaccinations and drive safely.

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.

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

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.

There are some good answers listed. Just make sure you are safe and practice good handwashing and use your PPE. When I worked in the ICU several nurses would glove and gown up when we got an admit because you just never know when a doctor, lab, admitting, etc will say oh by the way so and so has MRSA or VRE.