What are the chances of getting COVID-19 working as an ICU RN? CRNA?

[wl_3]

I am deciding on pursuing nursing as a career and want to ultimately become a CRNA. I am just wondering what the chances are of getting COVID-19 working as an ICU RN or CRNA.

I just have a few questions for you nurses and practicing CRNAs:

1. Are the chances of getting infected with COVID-19 while working as an ICU RN or CRNA high?

2. Is it possible to NOT get infected with COVID-19 at all working as an ICU RN or CRNA or should I expect to get infected with COVID-19 at work at least once every year or once every couple of years?

3. Are ICU RN and CRNA both considered high-risk professions for contracting COVID-19?

I plan to wear a N95 mask and all appropriate PPE during work except when I obviously can't (such as while eating during break).

Thank you.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Not ICU RN or CRNA, but an OR nurse who during the height of the pandemic was responsible for guiding the staff through donning and doffing. Which meant I was right there with their contaminated PPE. I never got COVID while working. Instead, it became an unwanted souvenir while on vacation. 

You will have access to PPE as a nurse. You don't have access to that same PPE out in public. 

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

As long as you follow best practices, your risk of COVID is no greater than anywhere else.  You have a higher likelihood of getting COVID in the community than working in the hospital.

I work in ICUs and have not yet tested positive for COVID thankfully. 

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Probably not because you're going to know your patient is positive and take proper precautions.

It's when you're out and about in the world of other people that you're likely to  catch it, but I don't have any scientific data to back that up.  Just thinking out loud.

That's what happened to me.  During the height of covid the first two years I didn't catch it.  But caught it out in the community last Summer when the masks came off.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I've worked in ICU for five years, I was full time in the ICU during COVID and took care of COVID positive patients for most of a year and a half- never got it. If you're following appropriate precautions, you're at no higher risk than in other environments, I don't think.