Influenza

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Have you been one of the lucky ones to avoid coming down with it so far? I tested positive today for type A. I did get the flu shot, but obviously it didn't save my husband or I this year. I've been exposed nearly daily for the last two weeks so I figured it was coming. Thank God I have tomorrow off as I suffered through my shift today (no patient or staff contact). This is not how I planned on spending my New Years Eve. Our local hospitals have finally instituted the limited visitation rules. People were bringing infants to see family members who are on isolation for Influenza. Here's hoping the season ends quickly.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Ugh, I hope you feel better soon! I'm pretty sure several of us in my house had it, although we didn't go and get tested...but it walked like influenza and talked like influenza. I did the unthinkable in the nursing world--I took two sick days for myself, then a week later took two to care for my sick children. My poor 8 y/o kept saying "Mamaaaaaaa!!! I feel like I'm stuck in a dream." We too were all vaccinated. We did heal relatively quickly though; each of us were sick for 3-4 days. The two times I've gotten influenza w/o getting vaccinated, I was sick for a couple of weeks. My 12 yr old got it once as a toddler--it was that year where vaccine was in such short supply--and she was sick for at least a week.

Glad to hear the hospitals cracked down on that nonsense. Bringing babies to visit someone w/ the flu?? Really??

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Knock on wood, I've been spared. Took care of a lot of flu patients, but managed to avoid it.

I wanted to knock some sense into a second year resident's head when I walked past a droplet room to see him talking to the patient with his mask in his hands. "Hey doc! Mask!" Got a sheepish look in return.

Dumb.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

We've only had three patients on my unit with influenza so far this season. We've been diligent about isolating all suspected cases immediately.

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

I work in the ER and feel like I am coated in flu cooties by the end of every shift. So far so good! Keeping my fingers crossed I don't get it.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

None of my patients have had it so far this year and I haven't known anyone in my personal life to get it either.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I checked out google flu and it show that influenza has hotspots still. Some states are looking like they haven't quite reached their peak yet. I'm just glad we all got it this week as I'm on break from school and I have an extra day off from work. It looks like my little one is coming down with it now. Poor kiddo.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

This and a stomach bug are making it's way thru our hospital! And parents were complaining that they couldn't have visitors with them

for holidays! I get it, but if your little one gets it, you may not have another holiday with them! Common sense is out the door!

[Nola009]

I've been around type A day in and out for a couple weeks too. I thought my hand washing and other precautions saved me ---apparently they didn't. I'm the most recent nurse on my unit to come down with the flu. I'm sitting at home with an active case now and it's terrible!

[JBudd, MSN]

I did not get the shot while I was on the worst of my chemo; doc said okay while starting my 2nd type of chemo but didn't get it done. Been in hospital for 4 days now, came down with it on Monday (skipped the chemo that day....); and then developed a cellulitis along with fever of 104. Got put in, on 02, mult abx for arm, and still short of breath.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Nola and JBudd, and xoemmylouox's kiddo...I hope you all feel better soon!

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

So far so good here,...I work ED also,...we are seeing several cases a day,....keeping my fingers crossed.