Risks Working in NICU????

Kudra · Oct 8, 2004

umh, the obvious answer would be radiation... i worked with at least 4 people last summer in an adult ICU who all had thyroid problems related to exposure to x-rays at work from the portable machines...

beth

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Oct 8, 2004

In the last year, we have had 4 breast cancers, 6 thyroid problems (hyper, hypo and cancer), 3 hand and arm skin cancers and 2 lymphomas. I'd like to see the stats for the other floors. We are exposed to radiation, phototherapy lights, and we breath helicoper exhaust on a regular basis (of course we are told it is okay...yeah right)

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Oct 8, 2004

I've seen three different docs this last year over goofy thyroid tests. First with tachycardia they find an elevated T3. I'm told it's possibly hyperthyroid, but endocrinologist says just birth control pills. Then a follow up test shows an elevated TSH which would indicate hypothyroid. Haven't really followed up on that one yet, I'm just frustrated about the whole thing. All this after working 2 years in NICU. When I worked in med/surg, we always exited the rooms for portable x-rays, now we are always in the room as they shoot multiple x-rays. We're told they are safe because of the low radiation put out for neonatal x-rays.

Gosh, something to think about. . .

Gompers, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

About the X-rays...my father has worked in radiology for 40 years and has always worn one of those radiation detector badges that monitors how much exposure he's had. Even when he was a tech and did portable X-rays (never wearing the lead apron) he didn't get much exposure at all. The amount of "scatter radiation" that we'd get by standing next to the baby, wearing a lead apron...it's nothing. The amount of radiation they use for infant-sized x-rays is very low to begin with. I did ask him about exposure to our hands if we're holding the baby for the x-ray, and he said that it wasn't too much to worry about - just to try and get your hands out of the actual field when they take the film. No one wants to see our hands on these kids' x-rays anyways! But I do work with people who are careless, who don't use the apron anymore, whose hands are all over the x-ray field, etc.

We have people on our unit with various cancers here and there, but it's such a big unit, with an aging population...it's really not much different stats than the general population.

When we have a pregnant nurse on the unit, we just hold their kids for x-rays and tell them to step away for a minute. We also keep them away from possible CMV babies, very septic babies, and any kids on isolation precautions. They also don't go out for transports while pregnant.

TristateRN · Oct 9, 2004

About the X-rays...my father has worked in radiology for 40 years and has always worn one of those radiation detector badges that monitors how much exposure he's had. Even when he was a tech and did portable X-rays (never wearing the lead apron) he didn't get much exposure at all. The amount of "scatter radiation" that we'd get by standing next to the baby, wearing a lead apron...it's nothing. The amount of radiation they use for infant-sized x-rays is very low to begin with. I did ask him about exposure to our hands if we're holding the baby for the x-ray, and he said that it wasn't too much to worry about - just to try and get your hands out of the actual field when they take the film. No one wants to see our hands on these kids' x-rays anyways! But I do work with people who are careless, who don't use the apron anymore, whose hands are all over the x-ray field, etc.
We have people on our unit with various cancers here and there, but it's such a big unit, with an aging population...it's really not much different stats than the general population.
When we have a pregnant nurse on the unit, we just hold their kids for x-rays and tell them to step away for a minute. We also keep them away from possible CMV babies, very septic babies, and any kids on isolation precautions. They also don't go out for transports while pregnant.

So are you saying you don't think its the radiation causing the thyroid problems? It just seems like too much of a coincidence that 12 nurses in one unit are diagnosed with similiar problems. A nurse from peds that always gets pulled or volunteers to work in the NICU also has a thyroid issue as well. The other units are all talking about it so it isn't something that is happening on their floors. It is being investigated for a reason. If not radiation then what? No one in this NICU wears lead aprons during xrays, is this standard practice everywhere else?

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

Interestingly, a new nurse in our unit had NHL. But there are nurses that have worked there for decades that are healthy.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

No one in this NICU wears lead aprons during xrays, is this standard practice everywhere else?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That could very well be the problem. If you're holding a baby during an x-ray, while the scatter radiation level is extemely low, you should still be wearing an apron that has a high neck for thyroid protection. Repeated exposure over years and years (as many NICU nurses stay there for their whole careers) can of course lead to problems if no protection is worn.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

We use aprons too. All but 1 of the people in my unit diagnosed with the things I listed are under 40.

We usually don't hold for radiology, they send two techs, both of which have on the radiation badges. One of the endocrinologist where we work said that the new phototherapy lights (not the old blue ones) have been linked to thryoid problems and skin cancers. We turn them off whenever we go in the beds now and we are encouraged to use lotions with sunscreen in them.

Of course, they haven't launched anything official.

rnpilot · Oct 9, 2004

I worked 12 years in NICU. I was recently diagnosed with a thyroid problem, however 2 others in my family have thyroid disorders so it may be unrelated. I personally doubt that radiation exposure from x-rays would be the cause. I and the other nurses I worked with were mostly in our 20's, and being childbearing age were very careful. It wouldn't surprise me though if it was discovered to be from exposure to bili lights.

Purlple · Oct 9, 2004

From what I know thyroid is considered the most sensitive to radiation organ. My cousing who works in the unit has thyroid problem as well.

Purlple · Oct 9, 2004

In the last year, we have had 4 breast cancers, 6 thyroid problems (hyper, hypo and cancer), 3 hand and arm skin cancers and 2 lymphomas. I'd like to see the stats for the other floors. We are exposed to radiation, phototherapy lights, and we breath helicoper exhaust on a regular basis (of course we are told it is okay...yeah right)

Wow, these numbers sounds awful.