My ER is making me sick.

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Specializes in Psych, Emergency, Med/Surg.

Hi everyone!

Wanted to know your thoughts on getting sick/catching the latest cold (like once a month) since I've been working in the ER about 10 months now. Everyone I work with says "the first year is the worst" and that it'll get better, but its really starting to get annoying. I wash my hands in and out, get rest, eat right, and exercise....even take multi vitamins. I don't know what else I could do to avoid the sickies that walk thru the door. Oh, and pls don't tell me to transfer out. I love what I do and plan to be an ER nurse when I graduate next year. Guess I would love to hear your experiences with the same because I know there are more out there like me. Thanks for sharing :)

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

All I can say is that ER's are always the dirtiest patient care areas. You have a choice to make. Talk to your doctor yet?

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Wear a mask. And make sure that the patients who are coughing all over the place have one on in triage.

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Also make sure the computer keyboards and phones are getting wiped down at least once per shift with disifectant wipes.

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Specializes in Psych, Emergency, Med/Surg.

See, now , I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that one day I'll have an immune system of steel. Awesome goal, huh?

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They're right, the first year is the worst. It dwindles off, though. I've worked in an ER for nearly 4 years, and only got sick a couple times this year with none of it serious. The flu shot helps!

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Specializes in Tele,PACU,ICU,CCU,ER,Home Care.

I feel your pain, worked in an ER for many years, I think I was eventually immune to everything. Recently picked up hours at an elementary school, those kids germs are killing me!! It's like my immune system needs to readjust.

One of the girls I worked with in the ER always wore the paper gown over her scrubs, gloves no matter what she was doing, and frequently wore a mask during cold and flu season. Wipe down the phone before you use it, I also tried to find the least used phone in the ER.

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Being sick is just pure misery. Replace your multivitamins with echinacea.

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No, don't take any silly stuff. Just eat well, and sleep well as you can. Wash your hands and carry a small sized alcohol rub in your pocket. Doctors are germ factories. Learn to when possible, stand at least three feet away from a coughing patient/staff member. Watch the docs, they do this too!! You handle patient when you need, but then there is a way of moving just far enough away or to the side of the bed and facing slightly behind the patient's head when doing BP, etc. you can turn your head away and not get it in the face.

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC.

I think that one of the most important things to do is to eat right and get plenty of good quality sleep. And eating right does not mean from the vending machines. Lots of lean protein, veggies, the occassional fruit. . . Lots of water!

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