Hi everybody,I've decided I'm not too old or too fat to be a CNA (thanks for all your advice :)). I do have one worry, however. I am asthmatic and usually experience asthma problems when I get a chest cold. I get flu shots every year and work to keep up my immunity. As nurses' aides, do you find that you catch a lot of colds, influenza, or other illnesses because you work in such close proximity with your patients? Please let me know and thanks. 0 Likes
CoffeemateCNA Nov 12, 2010 I got sick fairly often when I first started. Nothing serious, just colds and gastroenteritis (a.k.a. "stomach flu"- no such thing as the stomach flu, but that's for another thread :)). After awhile, you build up an immunity to most of the stuff. Nowadays I don't get sick anymore than I did before I started working in health care -- just a couple of times a year. 0 Likes
KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN Specializes in Med-Surg/urology. Nov 12, 2010 This year alone I've gotten an URI, a cold, and pink eye . I didn't catch anything from work last year.. 0 Likes
2ndyearstudent, CNA Specializes in CNA. Nov 12, 2010 Hi everybody,I've decided I'm not too old or too fat to be a CNA (thanks for all your advice :)). I do have one worry, however. I am asthmatic and usually experience asthma problems when I get a chest cold. I get flu shots every year and work to keep up my immunity. As nurses' aides, do you find that you catch a lot of colds, influenza, or other illnesses because you work in such close proximity with your patients? Please let me know and thanks.I get sick far less often after starting to work in a nursing home. But when I do, it's a butt-kicker. Every two years or so I run into a bad cold that just knocks me on the floor. 0 Likes
sunflower777 Specializes in 12 years exp in corporate healthcare. Nov 12, 2010 It seems I've had a few skin break-outs lately..uugghh! 0 Likes
systoly Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN. Has 23 years experience. Nov 12, 2010 Practice your precautions, not only during immediate patient care, but in the break room, at the desk, everywhere. 0 Likes
fuzzywuzzy, CNA Specializes in LTC. Has 3 years experience. Nov 13, 2010 Most people in nursing homes have chronic illnesses that you can't catch. That said, when a cold does go around and you work on a dementia unit, everyone coughs and sneezes directly in your face! I got sick more the first year, and now, not so much. But I've gotten better at remembering not to touch my face, not only at work but everywhere. 0 Likes
GHGoonette, BSN, RN Specializes in PACU, OR. Nov 13, 2010 Gee, I hope not...a lot of my patients have TB... 0 Likes
JDZ344 Nov 13, 2010 not a lot of colds; I haven't noticed an increase since I've been working, and I never take a flu jab. What sucks is when you catch the diarrhoea or vomiting-viruses. Ick. 0 Likes