Is Nursing for me if I get sick often?

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I just started a nursing program, and am enjoying the courses..but now have doubts if this profession is for me.

I am generally very healthy, but get acute bronchitis at least every year. This is even with the Flu shot, that I got in Nov.

My doc said I have acute bronchitis, but it's not bacterial. It's viral, and I just have to deal with the symptoms..but even with medication, the cough is hard to control. Sometimes during the day, I have to cough for several minutes.

I also use albuterol and this helps somewhat, but I've had this cough for about 3 weeks now. I've read that for some people with acute bronchitis, the cough can last weeks.

I know I got the virus from others in school who were sick. They seem ok now, but my cough persists..which is why I hate getting sick.

My doc said it's just the way my body deals with it and i just have to 'wait' it out..while using albuterol and some cough medicine..which don't always work well.

So now I wonder what would happen when I'm working with patients who have a cold..and I seem to get it easily. Even if I wash my hands, etc..since it's a viral infection and I seem to get it just by breathing air close to others that are sick.

I don't want to be a nurse who coughs for weeks..and risk getting my patients sick..or other nurses, etc.

If I work with sick people, I may get sick more than just once a year.

I really want to be a nurse and enjoy caring for people, but if I get sick every year for weeks ( I can't take all that time off work)..is nursing the profession for me?

I know how sick I get with bronchitis but I didn't think of this when applying to nursing school, since I was so interested in studying nursing.

But now in my first semester, and having this cough for so long..I am sadly wondering if I made a mistake in entering nursing.

:sniff:

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I am not going into you primary question. Hope some others will. Maybe you should get a second opinion about that bronchitis. Was that a lung specialist that told you it was viral. Have you had pulmonary function test done?

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No,it wasn't a lung specialist. It was my general doctor. But I've been told by other docs in the past the same thing- in some people the cough lasts for several weeks, and it's just the way my body handles it.

It's been this way since I was a kid. I can remember getting colds every year and the cough persisted for weeks. But I never had asthma or shortness of breath. Just bouts of coughing that could sometimes lasts several minutes.

It's annoying when I'm in class..that I just have to leave the room.

At night, it's even worse..even with a codeine cough med..the cough keeps me up.

My mom has a similar problem when she gets colds..the cough can be strong and lasts for weeks. But she's never had pneumonia or anything more serious.

I had a chest x-ray about 1 week ago, when I still had the cough..and it was normal.

I was told it was just upper respiratory problem. Sometimes the cough is productive, but it's not excessive.

What is a pulmonary function test?

K0 Smudee]I am not going into you primary question. Hope some others will. Maybe you should get a second opinion about that bronchitis. Was that a lung specialist that told you it was viral. Have you had pulmonary function test done?

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Bronchitis with cough that last for several weeks could also be asthma that flares during winter season from drier air too.

Personally having chronic bronchitis usually keeps me out of work 2-3 days/year....same amount of time others take for the flu. Being seen by lung specialist, having second round allergy shots and following prescribed med regimine at first sign of infection had no missed days for this past year.

So answer is YES!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/respiratorydisorders/messages/1651.html

medlineplus medical encyclopedia: chronic bronchitis

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My question is along the same lines. I had a kidney transplant 4 years ago. With my lowered immune system, should this (nursing career) even be an avenue for me? I am not your average transplant recipient, though, as I got mine from my identical twin. I'm only on a low dose of azathioprine. I haven't gotten really sick in a while, but with the exposure to so many more germs... Well, my daughter will go to kindergarten next year, she can bring germs home before I get into nusing school..LOL :sofahider

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Thanks so much for the info and links!

I have been told by one doc in the past that I have episodic asthma, when I get bronchitis.

But I don't run out of breath..nor wheeze. But I do feel a gurgling sound in my chest sometimes and my chest hurts from so much coughing.

I also find that using albuterol helps the cough somewhat. But it doesn't get rid of it any faster. The cough lingers for weeks every year.

I didn't think of going to a lung specialist since I was never referred by any doc I've seen in the past.

But I will look into it.

Bronchitis with cough that last for several weeks could also be asthma that flares during winter season from drier air too.

Personally having chronic bronchitis usually keeps me out of work 2-3 days/year....same amount of time others take for the flu. Being seen by lung specialist, having second round allergy shots and following prescribed med regimine at first sign of infection had no missed days for this past year.

So answer is YES!

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having worked with a pulmonologist in the past, we did see a fair amount of what is known as "cough variant asthma". some of these pts had minimal or no wheezing, but the PFT (pulmonary function test) told the story and the diagnosis.

Have you tried Tessalon Perles (benzanotate...spelling may be just a wee bit off). It is a wonderful medication that numbs the cough center and when I get bronchitis (at least once yearly) it is the only non-narcotic thing that will ease the cough. You may want to ask your physician about it...also perhaps request a referral to an allergist or pulmonologist?

but in answer to your question, of course you can be a nurse. There are nurses with every kind of health problem ranging from arthritis to diabetes to asthma to mental illness. Very few of us have no problems whatsoever. Just take the best possible care of yourself. And if coughing is problematic, can you stand a mask for a few minutes at a time? or suck on peppermint, lozenges, etc.?

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Yes, you can work as a nurse. If you are suseptible to URI's, you are going to get them no matter what line of work you do. What I've found over the years is that when I go to a new work site, I usually get sick within 1 month. My docs tell me is just exposure to a new set of germs that I don't have immunity to yet.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We actually have a kidney transplant RN working in our ER - she is doing very well - she is three years out.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

MIANJ,

You have my sympathy. I get that cough when i get a cold also. Always have. No asthma. Nothing helps me - inhalers, Tess. Pearls, or any of the other meds. The only thing that works is Hydrocodone cough syrup. It shuts down that smasmodic thing that just will not stop. Every 1 1/2 years I have to go to the doctor and get treated like a druggie because I ask for this. Doesn't matter that I have not requested anything else ever during the 1-2 years in between. They just are sure I am an addict. I work out every day and never go the MD except for this problem. It makes me so ticked off! By the way - my mom who has never taken a drug or sip of alcohol her whole life also get's this so maybe there is a genetic component to it.

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Thanks for the info about the cough medication. I will ask my doctor and look into getting referral for a pulmonlogist.

The problem is that by the time I may get an appt, I will probably be better..and not cough as much. So they may not see anything abnormal on the PFT test?

I guess there are all sorts of illnesses, and coughing may not be the worst. But I just feel that I would be so disruptive to pts. if I had to cough for several minutes at once. I just seem to get this terrible tickle on the back of my throat and can't stop coughing.

The mask is a good idea though.

having worked with a pulmonologist in the past, we did see a fair amount of what is known as "cough variant asthma". some of these pts had minimal or no wheezing, but the PFT (pulmonary function test) told the story and the diagnosis.

Have you tried Tessalon Perles (benzanotate...spelling may be just a wee bit off). It is a wonderful medication that numbs the cough center and when I get bronchitis (at least once yearly) it is the only non-narcotic thing that will ease the cough. You may want to ask your physician about it...also perhaps request a referral to an allergist or pulmonologist?

but in answer to your question, of course you can be a nurse. There are nurses with every kind of health problem ranging from arthritis to diabetes to asthma to mental illness. Very few of us have no problems whatsoever. Just take the best possible care of yourself. And if coughing is problematic, can you stand a mask for a few minutes at a time? or suck on peppermint, lozenges, etc.?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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