In need of some advice

ktwlpn, LPN · May 20, 2003

Originally posted by nurse jasmine
I am a new nurse. I currently work in an emergency room at a level one trauma center. I love my job but I keep getting very sick, usually with severe respiratory infections. I know that I could get sick anywhere but I feel it is directly related to the lack of isolation of patients with pneumonia and other contagious diseases. My doctors have suggested that I transfer to a different area of the hospital, but is this really going to make things better? I have a thought about transferring to ICU, CCU, and PACU. Do any of the experienced nurses out there have any advice for me?

I am betting that the stress you are under as a new nurse is the major factor in your recurrent illnesses and we all have an area in our body that is weak and responds to stress-yours appears to be respiratory(when I am stressed I have diarrhea-my sister gets skin problems) Try learning how to better deal with stress and build up your immune system.Vitamins,exercise and if you do smoke-stop..Get plenty of rest-you will adjust if you give yourself some time...

purplemania, BSN, RN · May 20, 2003

Where do the respiratory patients go when they are admitted? The very units you described. Another unit may expose you to MORE diseases. I agree that stress may be a factor, as long as your MD assures you nothing else is going on. There is stress in learning a new job on a different unit too. Get yourself checked out and follow the advice you are getting on this site. Hope you do well.

momoftriplets · May 20, 2003

Hi, I don't think you should transfer at all. You just need to take care of yourself a bit better. I agree that people react to stress much differently. Maybe you could wash your hands more, change you clothes before you go home, shower when getting home, take vitamins, other preventative things, just don't transfer doing what you like, because there are sick people everywhere. Also, becareful of the phones and other things, they all have cooties. lol. worse case senario, maybe cut back on your hours or something, but keep where you are. Take care of yourself!!! :)

CCL"Babe", BSN, RN · May 20, 2003

The first year I worked ER I was sick all the time, after that I rarely got sick.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 20, 2003

I agree that you will build up an immunity and eventually have an immune system that clobbers small children. Take care of yourself when you are sick and know that it will all pay off next year.