Scared and need advice

conscientiousnurse · Feb 12, 2012

When I was a school nurse, I would check students for lice and did find them at times. But I never caught lice, or bed bugs, or scabies either. If you try not to put your head next to someone who has it (and obviously don't share hats), lice is not that easy to catch. Putting your hair back should also help, which most people are required to do in the medical setting. Lice don't jump or fly, they only crawl.

RNGriffin · Feb 12, 2012

All of your subjects are subject to be transmitted in a clothing store before you will contract any in a medical facility utilizing Standard/Universal precautions. I would say, if you are afraid of what a patient may give to you, think of what you are bringing into the medical facility from the external environment to a patient with a compromised immune system. You are more of a threat to the patient, than vice versa!

bjaeram · Feb 12, 2012

Nurses have the best immune systems! The first 6 months you may be sick a lot but once your immunity builds you won't get sick often. My whole family had the puking, nasty stomach virus a couple of weeks ago...not even nausea for me! It's a great benefit to being a nurse.

As far as the bugs....I work in the ER and I do see all of those on a regular basis. I would say scabies is the most common. You definitly don't have to be in a third world country they are everywhere. Its gross but we usually know right away and can take precautions against getting them. They aren't going to jump across the room at you. I have never gotten any of these things from people! We have had to call in exterminators after patients and you do get the phantom itches but you grow a tough skin eventually:)

You are much more likely to catch stuff in public when you aren't looking for it. In the hospital you are vigilant and constantly washing your hands. In public you can be exposed and never have any idea. You can get lice from a movie theatre seat or a bus, bed bugs in a hotel, TB in an elevator, ect.

reneejohnston · Feb 12, 2012

first of all, it understandable that you have these thoughts. Nurses are exposed to many diseases but all i can say is that ive been a nurse for 27 years and havent aquired anything from my patients. The best thing you can do is practice good handwashing, dont wear your uniform home and keep yourself in the best health you can! Hang in there!

merlee · Feb 12, 2012

In 34 years I cannot remember ever getting anything from a patient. And the nurses who were sick from something usually brought it in with them!

Before blood was tested for everything, a nurse I worked with caught Hepatitis from blood used to prime the machine used while she was undergoing open heart surgery. And I have known some nurses to get UTIs from not going to the bathroom often enough, so they say.

Not a major worry. On the other hand, I was slapped (hard) by a patient, and I saw a tiny 75 yr old lady punch another nurse square in the mouth and knock out a tooth. But bugs?? not a worry!!

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2012

How does a nurse avoid getting lice, scabies, and bed bugs when you are right there with the infected patient?

You do this the same way you avoid getting lice, scabies, and bed bugs from people you see every day in life:

You avoid intimate contact with them.

By "intimate contact" I don't mean seeing them naked or performing procedures on sensitive areas - I mean you don't have sex with them.

It works like a charm.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2012

Been a nurse for 30 years.. BEFORE universal precautions.

Needle sticks, scabies, un-named skin disorders, respiratory diseases, blood exposures..

the only thing I got??? super human immune system!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2012

Those are little things not worth worrying about, the more serious are HIV and hepatitis C, H1N1 and all the new yet to be discovered viruses and superbugs. If you are so worried maybe nursing isn't for you, there are plenty of jobs out there that don't involve being exposed to blood and body fluids, etc. Also I'd be more worried about a back or neck, shoulder injury than a contagious disease! Things to think about!

conscientiousnurse · Feb 12, 2012

I tend to agree with brandy1017. You're probably more in danger of getting things like lice and scabies from your own kids anyway, after they've been at school all day rubbing heads with their classmates and then sitting on your lap. And lice and scabies are just annoyances, not really serious. (Bedbugs, I wouldn't like the expense of getting them out of my house, but still not serious to health). To prevent more serious infections, always be careful with needles to avoid needlesticks, and use universal precautions and all equipment needed in isolation rooms. Some places even use needleless equipment nowadays just to make sure you won't get stuck. (Even if you do, it doesn't guarantee you're going to catch whatever that person has).

"Also I'd be more worried about a back or neck, shoulder injury than a contagious disease!"

Back/neck injuries are common in many areas of nursing (though some areas have less risk), so you have to think about that risk and always use good body mechanics. Overall, I doubt that nursing is the most dangerous profession, but it's always good to think ahead about the pros and cons before you spend all that education money for any profession.

J_nicole · Feb 12, 2012

first of all, it understandable that you have these thoughts. Nurses are exposed to many diseases but all i can say is that ive been a nurse for 27 years and havent aquired anything from my patients. The best thing you can do is practice good handwashing, dont wear your uniform home and keep yourself in the best health you can! Hang in there!

thanks for the advice!

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2012

In all my years of nursing, I have had to get antibiotics and a tetorifice shot once when a patient scratched me hard. She had black crud under her fingernails so I didn't want to take a chance. I have also had to take antibiotics for an infection I was exposed to, as a precaution. The employee health nurse had contacted us and gave us the option. I once worked for a large teaching hospital in a "ghetto" area, and patients came in with roaches in their home vents and other equipment. I do worry about bedbugs, but haven't seen any yet.

Pride/hardwork17 · Feb 12, 2012

Are you a nurse yet? If not, I understand your fears. Nurses, like any other healthcare provider, have to take measures to protect themselves from any contagious diseases and by that I mean wearing gloves, masks, goggles, gowns, etc. And of course the most important measure is hand washing! Sometimes patients are put on "isolation" and there are strict guidelines to be followed to prevent spread of disease. When you start working, your new employer will provide you with a lot of education about protecting yourself from infectious diseases and you will feel a lot better after you understand it. Hope this helps!:)