is being a nurse dangerous?

[patty1919]

I am planning to be a nurse since I am passionate about taking care of other people, myself and my family. My cousin is strongly discouraging me to stop dreaming to be a nurse because according to her it's not worth it.For my cousin it's better to work in an environment free from illnesses.

My question is, is being a nurse very dangerous profession? please enlighten me

[bozmog1]

I think that yes, there are risks that normal everyday jobs do not have. You must be careful. I think nursing is almost a "calling" and as such the risks are worth the job satisfaction. But do be aware--yes--there are risks.

[bozmog1]

The only job I've had where it's been deemed acceptable to be physically assaulted by someone. The patient was completely withbit when she punched me. Three months on WCB and nagged by work to return

It is never deemed acceptable in this profession to be physically assaulted. You sound like you didn't get the attention you deserved. I'm sorry this happened to you but not all hospitals are like that.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

It is never deemed acceptable in this profession to be physically assaulted. You sound like you didn't get the attention you deserved. I'm sorry this happened to you but not all hospitals are like that.

Usually, no one comes right out and SAYS that it's OK to be physically assaulted. Instead, they say something like "You must have done something to escalate the situation", or "Just let it go, he couldn't help himself" or "Of course he's agitated, his loved one is ill". How many of us have called the police on a patient (or family member) who just assaulted us? It's rare, and in the "good old days", it didn't happen at all. I've worked in a number of hospitals in states on the east coast, the west coast and the midwest. In none of those places was it acceptable to call the police -- except when the person punched a physician or deadly weapons were involved. And even with deadly weapons, the person can be arrested, go to jail, and be out of jail and back visiting before the end of your shift.

That said, nursing is a lot less dangerous than many jobs you could choose. Law enforcement, for example (although cops are allowed to shoot back) or the military.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Nursing can be dangerous. Psychiatry is especially dangerous, physically. But even the little old ladies in

the nursing homes can be dangerous, and kids in juvenile lock-up are no walk in the park.

Usually if you treat patients and visitors nicely, you will be treated nicely in return. But not always.

Deep sea fishing, coal mining are dangerous, being a boxer isn't too safe (just watched Rocky).

But in more than 40 years in Nursing, only 1 patient has assaulted me. Not that that is acceptable. A

nurse should not have to go to work wondering if today is the day someone will assault me. You must always

try not to hurt your back, your neck, shoulders, etc.

I felt safer in the jails than working Psych, probably because the Corrections Officers were right there

and they didn't take any mess.

In Psych, the patients are supposed to be "treated, cared for". What some of them need really sometimes

is a little "physical therapy". I only half mean that. As I said, I have never been injured,

even the one time I was assaulted. (I was emotionally hurt, but not physically).

Sometimes you hear that someone was shot and is taken to the ER. Then, whoever shot him goes to the ER

to finish the killing. The monsters start shooting up the ER and don't care who else might get in the way of

their bullets and their selfish egos.

Nursing exposes you to infections, including deadly ones, but you learn to wear gloves, masks, gowns. It

exposes you to chemicals that can be harmful and to radiation.

There are many specialties in Nursing. Which ones are of interest to you? I do wish you all the best in your

choice of career.

[blackmamba123]

In many types of nursing there are risks involved. You are exposed to airborne and bloodborne pathogens, not to mention there are some people with some really unhygienic practices. However, you have just as much risk pushing a Wal-Mart buggy around without sanitizing it, or even walking around anywhere in general. The other day I was in Wal-Mart, and a shopper with a trache was in the grocery department coughing up a lung. I couldn't buy one thing in there. Listen, if nursing is your goal, go for it. Wash your hands often, wear protective equipment, and do the precautionary techniques you learn in school more times than not. Also, keep in mind there are nursing positions with less risk, if it is a major concern. You can do legal nursing or utilization, recruitment to name a few, where your biggest risk is a paper cut. I hope you pursue your goal and wish you all the best.

[djh123]

As AceofHearts

[NurseNinja1990]

In terms of catching something from a patient, you learn a lot in school about transmission of infection and what actions to take to protect yourself (see- wash your hands CONSTANTLY). There's always a risk of physical injury, I can speak for psych where just last week I treated a co-worker who had a chunk of his arm bitten off by a patient. He's fine btw but oh man, that was a lot of paperwork. If you're that worried there's always specialties with less risk like medical records, education, nurse informatics, and such. Don't let that fear keep you from following your dreams :)

[evastone, BSN, RN]

I have been strangled, kicked at, and exposed to bodily fluids. I come in contact often with communicable diseases and parasites often without any iso equipment because in the ER, I don't know the diagnosis until hours after caring for the patient. ("Hey, you know that lady who came in with the killer headache that you cared for last night? Turns out she has viral meningitis! Wow, it stinks to be you right now!") That being said, I do not get sick often and have thankfully not suffered from any serious communicable diseases. I catch more colds from my toddler than I do from my patients!

[djh123]

I got (what I think was) norovirus a couple of years ago from patient(s) at work (tons of people had it), and spent quite a bit of my 2 days off on the porcelain throne, then got better just in time to (ugh) go back to work.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

I got (what I think was) norovirus a couple of years ago from patient(s) at work (tons of people had it), and spent quite a bit of my 2 days off on the porcelain throne, then got better just in time to (ugh) go back to work.

Or you could have got it from someone in the coffee line, Walmart, a co-worker, etc.

[djh123]

Or you could have got it from someone in the coffee line, Walmart, a co-worker, etc.

Well true, but considering that a lot of residents at work had it, along with some co-workers, and that I'm not running around in umpteen public places every day, I still think it was work.

[Meeshie]

Well... there have been a few shootings lately and that one hostage situation recently where that nurse was raped.. so...... Dealing with the public is never free of risk. Never. Violence against nurses is a thing that happens. Of course, violence is a thing that happens in a lot of places.