is being a nurse dangerous?

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2017

Illness is everywhere. You are more likely to pick up a disease at Walmart than in the hospital.

There is no such thing as an " environment free of illness"

patty1919 · Jul 22, 2017

thanks, I guess she's job stereotyping :/

AceOfHearts<3 · Jul 22, 2017

There are risks with this job, just like there are risks with any jobs that deals with the public.

The big risks of nursing in my opinion are:

1) risk of exposure to bodily fluids- meaning splashes, needle sticks, etc- that might contain infectious organisms (HIV, hep c, etc)

2) risk of injuring yourself- throwing out your back lifting or ambulating a patient, shoulder injuries, etc.

3) risk of aggressive patients- they may be totally with it and want to harm you or they may be so out of it (delirium, drugs, mental health issues) they have no idea what they are doing. I've had patients get quite aggressive with me and have had to call security. A coworker had their arm broken by an aggressive patient

I frequently care for patients with MRSA, VRE, etc. and that doesn't worry me too much these days. I also might be concerned with catching the flu during flu season (the flu vaccine isn't always effective), but it doesn't worry me too much.

My job certainly has more risks than my father's since he works from home on the computer (but some nurses are able to do that). I'd say my job has less risks than my brother who is active duty military.

patty1919 · Jul 22, 2017

how do you protect yourself from caring a patient with contagious disease?

AceOfHearts<3 · Jul 22, 2017

how do you protect yourself from caring a patient with contagious disease?

You follow the necessary precautions- gown or face mask if indicated.

Hand hygiene is extremely important and the biggest thing to prevent spread of infection. You need to break the chain and hand hygiene is the most effective way of doing that.

Follow safety protocols when giving injections and keep your work area clean and clear.

You won't eliminate the risk 100%, but as stated going to the grocery store, etc. puts you at risk as well so even non-nurses will never be 100% safe.

I've missed one day of work in the last 20 months because I was sick. My career before nursing (an office job) I missed close to 10 days in one year from being too sick and contagious to work during the first year of that career.

patty1919 · Jul 22, 2017

I see, I easily get sick before, I hope I wont get sick when I'm on the nursing job

Fiona59 · Jul 22, 2017

The only job I've had where it's been deemed acceptable to be physically assaulted by someone. The patient was completely withbit when she punched me. Three months on WCB and nagged by work to return

vanilla bean · Jul 22, 2017

Nursing is definitely dangerous. I regularly get pooped on, peed on, barfed on, kicked, scratched, and screamed at. My patients in the NICU have no respect for me as a nurse.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jul 22, 2017

Nursing is definitely dangerous. I regularly get pooped on, peed on, barfed on, kicked, scratched, and screamed at. My patients in the NICU have no respect for me as a nurse.

Those little fingernails HURT!!!

patty1919 · Jul 22, 2017

well those don't bother me at all í ½í¸Š

allnurses Guide · Jul 22, 2017

Well I am all bruised up today with fingernail scratches to boot from an encounter with a psych patient yesterday. In psych we try really hard not to hurt the patients or have them hurt us - but it is part of the job description. I got a skull fracture a number of years ago (which was totally my fault) and left acute psych for a number of years - but came back. It's my thing I guess.

Hppy