How do you keep from catching everything?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I'm a school nurse, but I posted here because I want everyone's input on this. How do you keep from catching every virus, cold, flu and infection that your patients have?

I remember some hospital nurses telling me about putting something in your nose, but I don't remember the name or where to get it. Any idea for something OTC or easily obtainable that I can try? I am already doing the basic things: eat healthier, drink water, enough sleep, wash wash wash those hands. Any other ideas?

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Over time you should become immune to it. In the beginning I was taking Airbourne and that seemed to work well - it's full of electrolytes and those healthy vitamins. Also, right when you start to feel sick, take it. I have and it has helped me. My personal regimen when I am sick is taking an airbourne q3h, i don't eat at all (which causes energy to be diverted towards digestion), take a hot bath, and drink water. It usually helps me feel better faster.

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When I go in in the morning, (hospital) I clean all surfaces and doorknobs (keyboards, phones, etc) in the break room and nurses station with Cavicide wipes. Will do it again later if I notice any coughing or sneezing in the area. That, and OCD-type hand hygeine seem to help. I guess you could also wear a mask when seeing kids, to avoid the airborne stuff.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

you definitely build an immunity to all the icky little kid germs over time. but some times getting the cold or the bug going around in inevtable. just follow your own advice that you probably dish out a hundred times a day - wash you hands, drink plenty of water, get to bed at a reasonable hour and eat healthy food. Though if i do feel a cold coming on, i use Zicam nasal gel swabs - perhaps this is what you were thinking of.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Maybe it was Zicam, I was thinking it was something like bacto-ban??? But then again that sounds like it would be more for bacteria than the viral stuff that I see a lot of. I do love Airborne, the gummies are yummy, but hard to find sometimes.

I am closing in on my 1 year mark of school nursing, and I have been lucky so far, but I am seeing lots of flu-like illnesses in the last few days, so I am thinking prevention!!!

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Hello,

I work bedside at a hospital with an average of 12-16 patients a night. When I get to work, I wash my hands before and after going to a patient's room. Or if there are two patients to a room I wash my hands, put on gloves, work with the patient, then wash my hands again or use alcohol gel and allow to air dry, then put on a new set of gloves for the next patient. Once I am all done with anything else I need to do in the room and with the patients, I wash my hands again. I haven't gotten sick or felt sick yet, but I usually stick with Zycam when I start feeling sick and continue for a week. Essentially I practice as frequently as I can the standard safety precautions for all infection control. I always use new gloves for each new task and I wear a gown when precautioned to. It also helps to make sure all of your immunizations are up-to-date.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

After a few years in healthcare, your immune system will be strong enough to fight off squirrels in your back yard. Seriously.......early in my nursing career, I came down with EVERYTHING, including MRSA and C. diff., and now I get sick maybe once every 2-3 years. People around me will be dropping like flies, and I'm the one who keeps going through it all.

Just give yourself time to work through all the bugs, and wash your hands often! That's the best way I know to prevent illness.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
After a few years in healthcare, your immune system will be strong enough to fight off squirrels in your back yard. Seriously.......early in my nursing career, I came down with EVERYTHING, including MRSA and C. diff., and now I get sick maybe once every 2-3 years. People around me will be dropping like flies, and I'm the one who keeps going through it all.

Just give yourself time to work through all the bugs, and wash your hands often! That's the best way I know to prevent illness.

Thats how I was, too. I was sick a lot the first year, then I rarely caught anything after that first year. I did not do anything special, just lots of hand washing.

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I was asked that all the time when I was a grocery store pharmacist! I replied that we probably aren't exposed to any more germs than the general population; we just KNOW we are.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I wash my hands frequently and avoid touching my face.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds.

Wash my hands upon entering and exiting each patients room and wipe off my stethascope all the time... I have kids too, so I am fighting off their germs and work germs... You will get immune the longer you are exposed to it all...

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havent been sick in about 5 years.

my hands pay for it, but handwashing really does help i think

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