Fear of Germs, but still want to change careers to nurse

[angelee3]

I started working in banking when I was 18. I landed a job at a large credit union and worked in the accounting department for eleven years. I unexpectedly lost my job in October 2010. I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, and began working on a Master of Science in Accounting. But, after the first class, in which I earned an "A", I withdrew from the program. I am also tired of sitting at a desk all day and have a deep desire to help people, and to do something meaningful, and to feel like I accomplished something that matters at the end of the day. I have also considered nursing (and teaching in an elementary school), through the years. Unfortunately, my husband, sister (who is an LPN), and my friends are all very bold and tell me that they do not think nursing is for me because I am a germaphobe! I keep telling them my fears stem from the unkown, and if I learn more about what I am afraid of and face my fears I will overcome them. My desire to help people and to find fulfilling work outweighs my fear of germs. I just enrolled in a couple of the pre-requisite classes at my community college and I start in about ten days. I am nervous and excited about the classes! I am also worried that my family and friends will be right and I will somehow find that nursing is not for me. Does anyone have any experience with changing careers to nursing, and having started with a fear of germs? Did you overcome the fear? Were you happy with your decision to change careers? I would like any responses: both negative and positive experiences. Thank you!

[sugarmagnoliaRN]

I would try volunteering at a hospital and see how you feel. I'm in pathophysiology now and I do agree that a lot of the scariness goes away when you understand why illnesses occur. If it's any consolation, when I told my mom that I wanted to go into nursing she told me that she had originally wanted to as well, but when she first volunteered in the hospital she just couldn't take it... when she told this to her college roommate who was in nursing, her roommate said she should have pushed through it because everyone feels that way in the beginning! I don't like germs either (what can I say, I like things clean!) but I don't think it will get in the way - if anything, it will encourage me to have good hand hygeine etc. to avoid the spread of diseases.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with the volunteering idea. It will give you a chance to see how you do in a "germy" environment.

Maybe a nursing career is the right for you: I don't you well enough to know that. But don't out other possibilities. A lot of people immediately think of "nursing" when they think of careers that "help people," -- but there are actually lots of other ways to help people, too. You could use your business skills to help a lot more people than you will ever help as a nurse. For example, you could work for a charity or foundation that helps thousands -- or even millions -- of people.

Yes, lots of nursing students are turned off by the "yuck" factor in nursing. Some get over it. But others do not. If you are deeply germaphobic and can't get over that, nursing is probably not a good career choice for you. So I suggest you work around sick people for a while and see how you do. See how you feel about working in such an environment -- and keep an open mind.

[angelee3]

Thank you sugarmagnolia and llg for your honest replies. I think I will contact my local hospitals today and ask if they have any volunteer opportunites. Thank you llg for the idea of working for a charity or foundation. I have never even thought of that.

[angelee3]

Thank you for advising me to volunteer at a hospital. I took your advice and did so. I have been volunteering for a little over a month now (yes it took awhile for me to decide to do it). But, to my surprise, I LOVE it!!!!

[knittygrittyRN, MSN, RN]

The volunteering is a great idea, also see if hospitals offer shadowing, so that you can shadow a nurse for a day and see what it's like. In all honesty I still get squimish when I see blood but it's more now out of concern that a patient's ok. Likewise I hate having to give someone shots because I know how much I can't stand them. Sometimes your compassion side takes over and you forget what scares you. But you have to think of what if you have a patient with C. Diff and they're incontient, can you handle cleaning them up, and being in close contact with bacteria? There's some aspects that can't be avoided (but rest assured you wouldn't be the only one who dreaded getting a patient like that!)