When I think of nursing and other professions in the healthcare industry that deal directly with patients, I often imagine that getting sick is sort of an occupational hazard. So, I wanted to poll you all and see what turns up.
How often do you get sick?
What are some things you do (besides the obvious - hand washing, glove wearing, protective measures while on the job) to stay healthy?
Do you consume echinacea and vitamin C like it's going out of style?
Specializes in Case Mgmt, Anesthesia, ICU, ER, Dialysis.
I am convinced we have amazing immunity to be around what we're constantly exposed to and not be sicker than we are.
Last time I called out for being "sick" was when I got the stomach bug going around. Lost 12 pounds in a week. Wouldn't recommend it.
About once a year, I'll get the crud. Other than that, the only time I call out is when I injure myself. Dropping 10 pound marble chess boards on one's toes is not advisable. Don't know why they wouldn't let me work in that stylish surgical shoe. LOL!
Specializes in Ha! I am gaining experience everyday!.
The last time that I was sick was when I was nearly out of nursing school (probably May). I usually get sick once a year with something like a cold but then after that, I am usually sickness free. *Knock on wood.
I do take vitamins, but I doubt that is the sole reason for not harboring any bac. I just try to sleep at least 8 hours, take care of myself mentally :), and just wash my hands and use hand sanitizer in between.
I am immune suppressed r/t being a transplant recipient. I have never got sick from a patient in almost 4 years of ICU nursing. Constant hand washing and PPEs serve me well. I also NEVER touch my face at work.
I did come down with H1N1 flu, but I don't know where I was exposed. As flus go, it wasn't all that bad.
Specializes in Recovery (PACU)-11 yrs, General-13yrs.
Rarely sick-colds once or twice a year, flu x 2 in my whole life (touch wood) 20 years ago., don't get flu injections.
I am overweight, have hypertension, eat a mixed diet (ie a bit/lots of everything) water (but not excessively, ditto alcohol and chocolate), rarely eat junk food or pre-packaged meals, no vitamins/no supplements, no regular exercise programme-though I do dance vigorously at least once a week.
I have embraced the concept of germs and dirt, tho am a mad hand-washer at work. 150 years ago most of my ancestors lived in houses with poor sanitation etc etc and they survived!
Up until 2 moths ago I had accrued over 450 hours sick leave (and I only work 40 hours/fortnight), but have used 120 hours following LAVH, and I don't regard that as having being 'sick' in the catching something unpleasant sense of the word. (We get 2 weeks pro rata sick leave per year, thus I get 40 hours/year).
Hmm I get sick a little more often than a lot of people on these threads... usually 3-4 times a year with a nasty resp infection that lasts about a week, though caught one this year that lasted at least two and included a high fever as well; but I do work with a lot of respiratory illnesses among a variety of other infectious illnesses. Rarely (knock on wood) get any kind of stomach virus though... guess my GI tract is "stronger" than my respiratory tract :) I do practice LOTS AND LOTS of handwashing and disinfecting but when a kid coughs/sneezes right in your face, it's hard to avoid :)
I'm not sick a lot with different illnesses, but I do have to take quite a few sick days because I have what my doc thinks is Meniere's disease...and that TOTALLY sucks eggs.
When I do get ill, it's more from what my niece brings home from school than anything I catch at work.
I worked in the ER for a while and rarely, if ever got sick. I am now in Home Health and don't either. When I started working at a nursing home as a CNA, my daughter stated K~4 and we get everything known to man, stomach bugs, pneumonia Yuck! But then we were fine, had to build up that immunity!
I started taking Primal Defense several years ago, a probiotic cause I got a couple episodes of a sinus infection, I do think it helps in general. I also wash my hands (or use antibacterial hand sanitizer) at work but don't do antibacterial at home. IMHO it weakens the immune system if everything is too clean .
I get the flu every 7 years, whether I took a flu shot or not. I'm not kidding, I got it when I was 7 (1st grade), 14 (8th grade), 21, 28 and 35. I figure I'm not due again for awhile.
I generally take a flu shot every year. This past year I didn't because I was out of town when my hospital did the "pandemic" thing and immunized everyone in 2 days and didn't have another flu shot clinic for those of us who missed it.
I've been getting strep about every other year for the past 8 or 9 years. I have allergies so if I don't stay on top of them I will get an ear or sinus infection. I probably get 1 or 2 colds a year. I get migraines once or twice a year and my endometriosis gives me grief, but we're talking about infectious disease I suppose. I would say I average missing 3 or 4 days of work a year.
My kids never really get sick. In fact, my 5 year old has never been to the doctor for an illness. The few times she's been sick it's been for hours, not even a day. She has the constitution of a Russian peasant woman.
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NurseKitten, MSN, RN
364 Posts
I am convinced we have amazing immunity to be around what we're constantly exposed to and not be sicker than we are.
Last time I called out for being "sick" was when I got the stomach bug going around. Lost 12 pounds in a week. Wouldn't recommend it.
About once a year, I'll get the crud. Other than that, the only time I call out is when I injure myself. Dropping 10 pound marble chess boards on one's toes is not advisable. Don't know why they wouldn't let me work in that stylish surgical shoe. LOL!