Convince me I won't get MRSA? Pre-nursing school student!

[cherubhipster]

I know the title is a little dramatic but..

Here I am, totally excited to start school in the fall, having lunch with my friend today.

Friend: Hey, be careful, I know so and so who works at [future school/hospital] and she told me there's a MRSA outbreak there.

Me: *eyes wide*..wha?:dzed:

Is this something I should be worried about, really? I know that becoming a nurse has health risks, but I suppose this is the first time I am really comprehending some of the possibilities of those risks.

Or am I just being a silly pre-nurse?

[Skeletor]

There are safety precautions you will use when you anticipate coming into contact with an individual who has contracted a disease to minimize the transfer of their disease to you the caregiver.

It is a nature of our line of work. You will be educated on proper safety measures before you begin your clinical rotations.:nuke:

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

One of the really cool things about nursing school is that you will learn how to protect yourself in many, many situations, even the possibility of MRSA infections.

Nurses are exposed to so many things that precautionary activities become a way of life. And really, with all of the safeguards in place, the risk for infection is very, very low. I promise.

I think you'll have bigger things than this to worry about in school. Please, study hard, read your lessons, pay attention and become the best nurse you can be. The profession needs you. Much good luck!

[megananne7]

Wash your hands and follow isolation guidelines. You'll be fine.

[loriangel14, RN]

You will befine as long as you follow the posted precautions. Glove, gown and wash, wash, wash those hands.

[Fiona59]

I guess you better never work on my unit. In the last month we have had patients isolated for Cdiff, MRSA, VRE, and ESBL. No staff have come down with it. Protective measures (gowns, gloves, masks) and good handwashing are your friends.

I remember being told once that most healthcare works would be colonized with MRSA by the end of their working life.

Being colonized and being sick are too very different things.

On the plus side, health care workers in my region automatically get a private room at no extra charge when admitted to hospital.

If you practice safely and use the proper precautions nursing doesn't make you at risk for any illness at a higher rate than the general population. Report your injuries and needlesticks and life goes on. If you spend your time worrying about the "what ifs" you will never do anything and that includes crossing the street to 7-11 to get a coffee.

[time4meRN]

There are all kinds of things you could get. You can get MRSA from working out at the gym. You can get HIV, hepatitis etc... etc.... But there are ways to protect your self. Learn how and go about your way with your education. You'll find in nursing , you will be exposed to sooo much all you can do is learn how to protect yourself.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

You can get hit by a bus crossing the street but I bet you will still do it.

You can get MRSA outside of the hospital as well. At least you have access to gloves and such in the hospital vs at school or at any job or in a movie theater. Wash your hand alot, keep them out of your face and just be careful rather than fearful. Good luck in school, don't let people scare you with media induced hysteria!

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

I've been a nurse 25 years.

The nastiest thing I've caught, so far, was head lice.

Not in the hospital, either. I got that doing preschool vision exams.

[RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

you can "get" anything. dont matter if its at work or not, heck, i believe in it that most hospital workers are less sick.

dont matter that its MRSA, you can get anything anywhere

[cherubhipster]

You guys are so awesome! I feel so much better now. I love this website.

:loveya:

[casi, ASN, RN]

I've heard of more people getting MRSA from shopping carts and the gym than from working in a hospital.

Wash/alcohol rub your hands often.