Is Nursing for me if I get sick often?

[MiaNJ]

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.

[MiaNJ]

I think I have tried Hydrocodone but in tablets. It worked ok, but I could only take it at night. But on some nights, it didn't work as well.

I haven't found anything to use during the day that will calm that horrible coughing fit I get sometimes.

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.

[Judee Smudee, ADN, RN]

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.

Even if the cough has improved, pulmonary function test will at least rule out asthma as a cause of your problems. Then you will at least know what you are dealing with.