I keep getting sick!

HappyNurse2005, RN · Sep 17, 2005

Talk to your manager.

you could wear a mask/gloves in pt rooms if you are sick.

Jolie, BSN · Sep 17, 2005

Frequent illness goes along with the territory of being a new peds nurse.

Be sure you are immunized, use good handwashing, keep your hands away from your face, and follow applicable isolation precautions. In time, you will build up immunity to the common bugs you encounter.

I worked NICU for 11 years, moving frequently with my hubby's job. Every time I started at a new hospital, I had a brief period of illness which I attributed to new bugs I'd not been exposed to before.

This too, shall pass.

directcare4me · Sep 17, 2005

Like the others said, it will pass. In the meantime, or to help it pass more quickly, you might, if you aren't already, do some of the things that helps your immune system. Get a decent amount of rest each day/night; eat healthy foods; drink lots of water; do something enjoyable every day that has nothing to do with your job; exercise--walk around the block, go to the Y; investigate natural suppliments that are good for the immune system.

Basically, just "pour goodness and joy" into yourself, because nursing is a job that takes a lot out of us. You'll get past it. Much good luck--there's nothing like peds. It's a special kind of work, and takes a special kind of person to do it.

NessaNurse · Sep 17, 2005

Like the others said, it will pass. In the meantime, or to help it pass more quickly, you might, if you aren't already, do some of the things that helps your immune system. Get a decent amount of rest each day/night; eat healthy foods; drink lots of water; do something enjoyable every day that has nothing to do with your job; exercise--walk around the block, go to the Y; investigate natural suppliments that are good for the immune system.
Basically, just "pour goodness and joy" into yourself, because nursing is a job that takes a lot out of us. You'll get past it. Much good luck--there's nothing like peds. It's a special kind of work, and takes a special kind of person to do it.

thaks everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel like I just keep getting sick. I don't think my being asthmatic helps at all! I swear I just jump from one URI to another. Right now I'm almost done with my antibiotics (Dr. wanst even sure if it was a full blown infection but she put me on them as a precaution). I fel good right now, but it might just be my cough syrup (which I cant take at wrok, codeine). I would hate to give up working with kids because of this.

So I'll base how I feel tomorow if I'll need to call out again or go in.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Sep 18, 2005

I'm a new nurse and also an asthmatic, and boy am I feeling it right now. My advice would be, whatever your maintenance med is, don't run out! Keep taking it! Take a vitamin C tab now and then when you remember it- it's water soluble so you are not going to (reasonably) be able to overdose yourself. Set a goal like I have pneumonia patients do, of 1-2 liters of water intake per day, bring healthy snacks with you to work, etc.

The other thing I do to help is the weird "netti-pot" or "nori" or you call it what you want- I call it the snot washer. That little teapot thing where you pour (my homemade bad attempt at) normal saline up your nose and NOT down the back of your throat, it comes out the other nostril, is wonderful and nasty all at the same time. First, it sorta kicks your sinuses into getting rid of stuff up there that shouldn't be there, second, it removes part of the environment the bugs were growing in (the snot), and third, because I can't get my saline recipe right, it screws up the pH in that area and hopefully makes it less hospitable for bacteria. Now that I've grossed you out... :rolleyes:

Cute_CNA, CNA · Sep 18, 2005

Lots of vitamin C in your diet seems to work w/me .

I'm sure you know this, but lot of handwashing, too.

I never put my fingers in my mouth while at work or in public, even when they're clean.

Get lots of rest.

Don't go for extended periods of time with elevated stress. Have "time-out" days where you do nothing at all on your days off.

You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else.

Where I work, we have a "sick-leave bank," where you can "borrow" other people's sick days if you have donated about 8 hours of your own. Check out the HR in your hospital and ask around about it.

It's the simple things which make a lot of difference that we sometimes take advantage of or forget.