Did you catch a disease while working as a nurse?

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I'm just curious.... how often does it happen that someone catches a disease/illness from a patient while working as a nurse? Just want to know what the risk is like...

ive never caught anything to my knowledge in the 8 years ive been a nurse, but if i were to tomorrow, it certainly wouldnt surprise me!

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Not that I know of. I will say that I was nervous about working with infectious patients when I knew my immune system was down, but no, I never got anything.

Thank the Lord.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I contracted Hep B when volunteering in Bangladesh and India. Had some kids with hepatitis, likely I got splashed when emptying urinals. That or the IV needle from the clinic when I was being treated for really horrific gastroenteritis. Over it now, have active immunity PTL.

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Specializes in NICU.

I went to ER with a co-worker for an IV start on a toddler with vomiting and diarrhea. 36 hours later I was vomiting. I haven't had an episode like that in years, and I don't work on Peds.

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Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.

So far so good, Knock on wood. I even got away without getting scabies when the whole facility and half the staff had it. I agree with rbezemek, I think I have an iron clad immune system after 16 years of nursing.

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

Yep, in my first years of nursing I caught Hep A and got a positive tb test. Nothing else in 30 yrs

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.
Urinary tract infections big one i have noticed when i do hospital nursing; maybe also due to long shifts nurses we don't drink water; hold our urine for too long and when we have to pee we still are using hospital toilets; i take all the precautions TRY to drink enough fluids thru my shift but somehow still end with them each time i go back to hospitals for work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:o

Yep, UTI when I was pregnant- combo of not drinking enough and not peeing enough when at work. I peed in a cup on the unit, did a dip on it, called my ob b/c there were leuk's and nitrites, and she sent me a prescription for abx in the hospital tube system. LOL

I had something similar. A bug bite turn into MRSA cellulitis on my forearm. It was pretty bad but I got on PO abx. right away.

Was it community acquired? Or was I colonized from being exposed in the hospital is a mystery question. More than likely I was and am colonized. The NP also did an drainage, and treated my nares since that's where colonies like to live.

I've has staph on my leg. Nasty. Luckily is was "just staph" :uhoh3: and not MRSA, but we thought it was until the culture came back. Still got a nice round of po abx, but the course wasn't as long as it would have been!

Plenty of URI's and strep once. Missed norovirus when it rounded at my school, and now have a raging URI again. I'm getting ready to go take some benadryl to dry me up so I can sleep.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

Not so far! I'm starting in pediatrics come March so we'll see how long that holds up!

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My sister and the MD were working with a hep patient who fought them....and during the ruckus, the needle just used pricked both my sister and the doc. My sister lost almost 60 lbs. Doc nearly died. Not sure what type of hep....but a bad situation.

:o

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.
I got chicken pox from a patient with shingles when I was 27. Sicker than a dog!

Same here, but happened just lat month! Have had lice, + PPDs, and the usual colds! Such is life!!!

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First of all, I have to say that I am a hand hygeine PPE stickler - but I *did* contract MRSA this past year that warranted an operation as well as IV Vanco, packing - the works! A few weeks back I ended up with Impetigo which my primary doctor states could be a continuing problem because I colonize staph and im under so much stress that my immune system is poor.

He told me to stop stressing and relax. Im A nurse, I dont RELAX! *lol*

Anyways - considering that I am so meticulous with my hygeine and gloving along with any other PPE i feel is necessary, I suppose I am proof positive that contracting something is almost part of our job description. We can only follow protocol, be safe and hope for the best.

Im just happy to be alive today to tell my story!

:up:

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norovirus x2. Both of those times I was sick during my days off so I didn't get to use any of my sick time either. I'd also make a wager that me and most of my coworkers are MRSA positive.

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