Scared and need advice

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okay i am new to this site so if i am posting in the wrong area, i apologize. I need advice i am scare of being a nurse, not because of blood, crap, puke or anything along those lines, but i have a fear of catching diseases..along with other things. How does a nurse avoid getting lice, scabies, and bed bugs when you are right there with the infected patient? I know this sounds immature and silly, but i am sure i am/was not the only one who has had this fear...so please ..advice??

I know this is an old thread now, but i have to go back and laugh at myself. I wrote this before i ever started nursing school, i was a very paranoid "germaphobe" at that time. Now what i once feared doesn't scare me so much, i just take precautions and hope that's enough. I guess exposure really does help rid you of your fear.

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I know this is an old thread now but i have to go back and laugh at myself. I wrote this before i ever started nursing school, i was a very paranoid "germaphobe" at that time. Now what i once feared doesn't scare me so much, i just take precautions and hope that's enough. I guess exposure really does help rid you of your fear.[/quote']

That's great to hear! Thanks for the update. I have a certain fear of my own, and this gives me hope that I CAN cope and succeed. :)

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

Glad you're feeling better about it. Just read through some of the older posts.....you don't have to have sex with someone to get scabie...LMAO. Really! I"ve been exposed to all 3 and never gotten any of them thankfully. You just have to take precautions, wash your hands and change your clothes/wear gowns as needed. I keep extra scrubs at work for if im feeling extra gross or I get soiled.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I know this is an old thread now, but i have to go back and laugh at myself. I wrote this before i ever started nursing school, i was a very paranoid "germaphobe" at that time. Now what i once feared doesn't scare me so much, i just take precautions and hope that's enough. I guess exposure really does help rid you of your fear.
It's funny when you think about your initial fears only to realize how silly it all was!

Congrats! Welcome to the group! ;)

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Not a nurse yet, nursing student! But I have worked as a endoscopy tech/ MA for 6 yrs .. while working in a pediatric office I've encountered pts with mumps (big thing going on in my area at the time certain communities were declining vaccinations & living in close quarters), working in an ASC I've had patients with C. Diff, scabies, MRSA, hepatitis, HIV, one patient even brought bed bugs to our facility pt was quarantined, asked to shower, all her clothes and linen close to her were red bagged for incineration. We had the bed bug sniffing dog Rosco (cute little beagle) come in and of course the exterminator! And not 1 of the 50 employees brought any little buggers home. I get my self tested for everything on a regular basis and always use universal protocol and PPE. You cannot always fear the unknown!

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OP, thanks for the update!

Now your job is to watch AN, especially the student and pre-nursing student fora, for people who feel the same, give them the link to this discussion, and smile. :)

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