Sickly Nurses????

gojack · Jul 2, 2003

I'm glad you got married and now get some relief from the dangerous conditions of being a nurse. Unfortunately for me, when a male nurse gets married. it works kind of to the opposite.

What? Us nurses get sick? How's that??? when we work in an environment so dedicated to health>>>> LOL

Maybe the speedup, the sleep deprivation, the unnecessary management-mandated stress, latex dust, chemicals, needlesticks, and microbes have something to do with it all. Luckily, the US has a fine workmen's comp system in place that will only work if you break your back while at work, and then go to a trained and competent surgeon to make it permanent. Then, maybe just then, you might qualify for a narcotically oriented, prolonged and repeated vacation paid minimally for by the US government taxes that are now being removed from your salary? Good luck...

angelbear · Jul 2, 2003

I have fibro dx'd 2 yrs ago. Flares seem to be getting worse and more frequent. For the first time last night at work I needed help to get my job done. I am starting to get a bit frightened. Thanks for sharing about yourself. I have often wondered just how many nurses suffered with these kinds of illnesses. I hope you get lots of responses as I want to know too.

Disablednurse · Jul 2, 2003

I have just been approved for my disability r/t failed back syndrome. Just a year ago today, I had spinal fusion that did not work. I really miss nursing and hate having to spend 20 out of 24 hours a day in the bed. I ended up with permanent nerve damage because I had a pinched nerve that I did not go have checked until it was too late. Nurses do not take care of themselves and the work is very hard. Most people do not realize what is involved in the nursing profession.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jul 2, 2003

There was a blurb on NBC nightly news last PM about stress affecting the immune system adversely. It was about caregiver stress, but I would think it applies to any stress. They said that once the stressor goes away, the immune system does NOT recover. I firmly believe that is what happens to us.

Furball · Jul 2, 2003

Interesting story about teachers

http://www.stopgettingsick.com/Conditions/condition_template.cfm/4072/72/1

Nurses are exposed to even more infectious agents than teachers.

tonicareer · Jul 2, 2003

I worked in a school building for many years and was always sick. Now I am developing some of the symptoms described in the article. Not only did I have constant flus and colds I developed worse problems. Many of the teachers in that building have lupus and arthritis, lung problems and various cancers. The building has a serious mold problem and always smells funny. I no longer work there and my colds and flus have been reduced, but I have other symptoms as well that are described in the article. Stress may be one factor but so is the environment.

krispynurse · Jul 2, 2003

Originally posted by Disablednurse
I have just been approved for my disability r/t failed back syndrome. Just a year ago today, I had spinal fusion that did not work. I really miss nursing and hate having to spend 20 out of 24 hours a day in the bed. I ended up with permanent nerve damage because I had a pinched nerve that I did not go have checked until it was too late. Nurses do not take care of themselves and the work is very hard. Most people do not realize what is involved in the nursing profession.

:imbar Your so right nurses do not take care of themselves or they wait too long to do it cause you know we are the 2nd worse patients in the world ---Docs being #1---LOL---Sorry to hear about your back but glad at least you got disability for it. I have seen so many nurses just keep on going cause in my state it is so hard sometimes to get disability ( for the ones who really need it) My prayers are with you and hang in there. I miss nursing too, the patients mostly (even the cranky ones) but I don't miss all that stressed washed out feeling. Good luck to ya!

krispynurse · Jul 2, 2003

Originally posted by Furball
Interesting story about teachers
http://www.stopgettingsick.com/Conditions/condition_template.cfm/4072/72/1

Nurses are exposed to even more infectious agents than teachers.

Thanks for this info Furball. I totally agree that stress affects us where we work and the building where we work can affect us more. The last place I worked was a small rural hospital that has been there for years and years and the staff always stays sick with flu like symptoms. But we would have to continue to work cause their were so few us of being so small of a hospital. I would joke and tell them that I think it's in the walls and the only way to get rid of the germs would be to tear it down and start all over again and now I am sure of it. My old friends there will be getting the above address so that they can read it for themselves. If I was still there I would slip it under the director's door , but that is just me :devil:

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2003

Nurse for ten years, here. Fibro and serious back problems. Also frequent colds and flu.

angelbear · Jul 3, 2003

Maybe we should start a sick nurses support group. hehehe Sad but true not many jobs are more stressful than nursing. And yes we are exposed to alot most of which we dont even know we are being exposed too.

krispynurse · Jul 3, 2003

Ohhhhhhhhh how it helps to know that you are not alone...LOL