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.
Several months ago my uncle had a heart attack and major surgery. The hospital that he was in was having a major MRSA outbreak. We were very lucky because he didn't catch it, and none of our family did during the long periods of time we were waiting in the hospital. I went told all of them they should be careful what they touched, and make sure not to put hands to mouth, eyes etc without washing. I carried the antibacterial spray with me, and sprayed everyone down every now and again. It's just that simple...be careful....and wash wash wash.
Pay attention in microbiology class. What you learn will work wonders for your fear of MRSA.
PS - I've taken care of a ton of patients with all sorts of resistant/virulent bacteria, and I've yet to come down with anyways in my 5 years in healthcare. Just wash your hands a lot. You'd be amazed at how many people don't wash their hands properly...which is half the reason why so many people get sick anyways...
Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.
I've had some pretty gross exposures to blood and body fluids over the years, including eyes, mouth and a few needlesticks, never got anything from any of them, frankly, at this point I never worry about HIV, MRSA, VRE, CMV,TB etc, I'm more worried about getting MRSA at the gym
A large majority of the population could be swabbed and found to carry MRSA in their nares. It is EVERYWHERE!! Your best defense is to keep your immune system intact and use precautions when dealing with a known infection.
I'll slightly burst the 'you wont get MRSA bubble here'.
(Just as an eye opener and to drill in the importance of universal precations!!)
I got MRSA in Feb 07. It was my fault - private duty trached pt with MRSA and psuedomonas in her trach, required suctioning up to 20 times an hour. Sometimes to 10 minutes straight at a time b/c she just kept bubbling out of her trach. (she was a neurological mess and really wasnt there at all )
I guess one time I missed gloving/handwashing, and ended up with 2 abscesses that had to be excised. Talk about the most painful thing I have ever went through. Antibiotics ruined my stomach.
However, the moral of my story is that as long as you use effective universal precations THE ENTIRE TIME, you will be fine. Sometimes in a dire situation, ie, pt cannot breath b/c of all her secretions, the little voice in your head that says ' get those gloves' and you dont hear it. You just need to be really aware of what you are doing, and you will be fine.
And, I agree with everyone else here - I'm more worried about getting MRSA from the community then I am from my hospitalized pts. I've been exposed to everything in the hospital setting and dont have it. Its the community that worries me..
I have never heard of nor known anyone who is a nurse/aid/doctor etc who has contracted MRSA doing their job.
If you follow precautions, you will be fine. Also, know that your immune system will do its job. Try to not let yourself get paranoid, that's a terrible way to live. Just follow precautions, wash your hands, and all will be well.
You are probably more at risk for contacting something from a cart at the grocery store than at work.
You are more protected at work than everywhere because you a) practice universal precautions, and b) you know when you are dealing with someone with MRSA,VRE, ESBL etc.
MRSA is very prevalent in the community--in fact, it's called community acquired MRSA. My teenage nephew had an abscess w/it and he had never been in a hospital.
So, as someone else said, you can catch anything anywhere.
You aren't being silly. There are risks to working in a health care setting.
I do not want to scare you, but I wanted to share. I worry about MRSA because of my present situation.
I had a ton of allergies and eczema since childhood. I had an overactive immune system and NEVER got sick and if I did it was mild and went away quickly. If I cut myself, I could see skin growing over it the next day. When I had surgery, I healed rapidly and six days after having fibroids removed, my c-section type incision looked like a cat had scratched me. I thought I was safe because everyone would get ill at my work and I never did.
In late Oct 1998, the entire staff in my department, 22 people, got strep throat. I was the LAST person to get it. I only took one day off of work and bounced right back.
Or so I thought. By the beginning of December, I realized that I was waking up stiff, my fingers and toes were killing me, I was tired all day, having a hard time walking, remembering, everything. I was seeing double, forgetting patients were on the phone, etc. I worked and went home and to bed in my clothes and slept for 14 hours.
I knew that I had somehow "over attacked" the strep and started attacking myself. I knew I had rheumatoid arthritis...dormant....waiting for an opportunity. I went to the doctor and sure enough, I had a positive rheumatoid factor and a SED rate of 80 (>20 is normal).
Despite medication, I had to leave my job later that year because it was too difficult to try to get better, be an RN, and be a single mother to an 8 y/o who acted more like 5 and had alot of special needs. I had to file bankruptcy, move, quit grad school, basically I was screwed over at the age of 27, exactly 2 years out of school. For the next 8 years I worked from home selling books online and giving advice.
March 15th I took the risk of going on Enbrel (I was afraid of cancer) and I realized how little the traditional meds were helping. In fact they did nothing. I am sorry I was so afraid of cancer that I allowed the RA to own me and rob me.
Now I am back to my "college days self" and eager to go back to work. I do worry about MRSA because I am on immunosuppressants, but I seem to finally have a normal, not underactive immune system.
One precaution I am taking is that I use all antibacterial handsoap in the house and in the shower I only use Dial antibacterial body wash and a scrubby. I like the "Ocean Breeze" one. I think it is the only antibacterial body wash.
Protect your skin!!! Don't let people cough all over you. That's my advice!! Nursing is not without risks. I learned the long hard way.
coolpeach
1,051 Posts
Several months ago my uncle had a heart attack and major surgery. The hospital that he was in was having a major MRSA outbreak. We were very lucky because he didn't catch it, and none of our family did during the long periods of time we were waiting in the hospital. I went told all of them they should be careful what they touched, and make sure not to put hands to mouth, eyes etc without washing. I carried the antibacterial spray with me, and sprayed everyone down every now and again. It's just that simple...be careful....and wash wash wash.