Influenza

[xoemmylouox]

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.

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

My facility just implemented reduced visitation due to influenza, and the NICU is on drastic restrictions. Strain A is the culprit here so far, and we haven't peaked yet. (ND) A third of my floor census tested positive last weekend. I might wear a mask 95% of the time for MY protection, since I've seen how well the shot has done. They say it makes the course of the illness shorter/more mild, but tell that to my pts on BiPap, please.

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

My facility just implemented reduced visitation due to influenza, and the NICU is on drastic restrictions. Strain A is the culprit here so far, and we haven't peaked yet. (ND) A third of my floor census tested positive last weekend. I might wear a mask 95% of the time for MY protection, since I've seen how well the shot has done. They say it makes the course of the illness shorter/more mild, but tell that to my pts on BiPap, please.

You know, at my previous facility, I was forced to wear a mask because I refused to take the flu shot. I never got sick, not even a cold, for as long as I had to wear that damn mask. I might just start doing it again at my current facility even though I wasn't forced to take the flu shot. And especially since doctors didn't think to order a flu swab on one of my patients, see my above post.

[WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I actually haven't gotten the flu since I was 8, so I am going on 19 years without getting it, and I've never gotten a flu shot. I must be one of the really lucky ones.