Looking to do into cardiac nursing... can u help??

[Epona]

Hi. I am seriously considering going into cardiac nursing. I am a cardiac patient myself. I already have a BS degree in Communications and Biology with a lot of courses in medicine. I have a few questions though and I hope you can shed some light on this for me....

How often do you come in contact with blood (office vs. hospital) and how much at rick are you of getting stuck with a dirty needle or getting an infectious disease? I ask because I used to work at a hospital as a medical writer and came in contact with a disease that almost killed me. I am better today, but it took me four years to recover... and that was just being a writer working with doctors and patients... I also ask because I am a heart patient (my condition does not hinder my life), but I have to be weary of infections.

Also... can we wear whites or is that just for the doctors?

And... do we get breaks on our shifts??

Thanks VERY MUCH for shedding some light on these issues as I try to make an educated decision... Epona