work makes me sick, literally :OP

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we are exposed to the sickest people in our world just as an expected part of the job... despite aseptic techniques, contact isolation and isolation when we know we need it, and our best efforts to wash, wash and wash again.... there is still extreme risk of exposure and contraction of disease in our work environment.

:o

i know i brought home a stomach virus last year! it seems that everyone of our possible flu's came in with typical viral fever, n/v, and just needed 24 hrs to recover! (please doc send them home like the rest of us!!!) i had about 10 shifts with multiple patients like this, but the one i think gave it to me was the one i couldn't get to wake up. she was just being sleepy on last rounds in the morning and i needed to get some blood. i nudged her as i spoke her name.... she finaly woke and breathed thick morning breath right into my face... i was talking and got a mouth full..... gag. :angryfire

thankfully i took care of myself, and isolated a bathroom for only my use and didn't give it to anyone else in my house... i was so proud of myself for that... but was i ever sick!!! there should be compensation for us when we get that kind of job related injury don't you think?

so i want to ask:

are you sick right now? and can you share what your going through?

have you been sick b/c of work and want to share some advice?

(you could get an annonomous log in name if you need to)

Specializes in HIV/AIDS, Dementia, Psych.

I have CFS and my immune system is the pits so I do anything and everything to keep from catching 'what's going around'. If I do catch something, it takes me twice as long to recover. This year, I am meticulous about my little 'keep from getting sick' rituals and here's what I do.

1. As soon as you get to work, wipe down all work surfaces with disinfectant wipes. Pay close attention to the phone and call bell system. Do the phones again a few times throughout the day.

2. DO NOT touch your face...ever...while you are at work. Learn to keep your hands as far from your face as possible.

3. Take a daily vitamin and get tested for B12 deficiency. If you are deficient, get the shots! You can also use sublingual B12.

4. Eat properly and get enough rest whenever possible.

5. Leave a tub of disinfectant wipes in the bathroom and wipe the toilet down before each use.

6. As every nurse knows...WASH WASH WASH your hands!

7. Use that little tube of antibacterial hand gel on your patients! As long as there's no contraindication. They spread infection like wildfire because they aren't washing their hands. Or if possible, educate them on the importance of handwashing and see that they do it.

Muy staff may think I'm crazy, but I don't care. They will be appreciative when they realize we're the only unit not getting sick!

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Specializes in HIV/AIDS, Dementia, Psych.
how about what our job does to our hands! the cracking and stinging with each wash and the need for that instant soap when we are in a hurry or in a bad way... never enough lotion to mend them on the run either... i am always glad when i get my couple days off, just to heal up the cuticles forget the manicured look!

I buy Bath and Body Works antibacterial soap to use at work so this doesn't happen as badly. I also found that a sample size of your favorite lotion is a great thing to keep in your pocket!

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i'm just not sure that any product is as good as the hospitals antibacterial stuff (am i wrong?)... and i am afraid most lotions will just hold on to bacteria in my work place... i have used my hospitals lotion product that is antibacterial but their new product (they changed a few months back) just doesn't work very well at all and stings to boot!

i like your work routine... though i don't think that most of us would put out enough effort to swab the john :) but thanks for the tips!

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Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.

I have chronic brohnchitis (sp) it sucks!

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Specializes in HIV/AIDS, Dementia, Psych.

Thway the bacteria on your hands dies, is the scrubbing action you provide, so it doesn't really matter what type of soap you use.

As for lotion, I use Avojuice Skin Quenchers. It comes in a sample size and it dissolves into the skin completely, never leaves a film. It also smells GREAT and keeps your hands nice and soft. I buy mine at Ulta.

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Krissy NY vbmenu_register("postmenu_801069", true);

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2004

Age: 32

Posts: 52

icon1.gif Entire unit quarentined

I have shared that I am a new CNA and began work at a new facility. I was on the second floor and then placed in an activities based program and now have been moved to the 1st floor. I now realize the reason I am on the 1st flor is that they are all on isolation and those who worked the floor with senority were moved and the newbies put on.

I was only there two days and I developed a severe cough, fever, sweats, chills and have been out for the past three days and finally feel better. I sware the place sounds like a kennel with them all coughing and I still sound pretty bad myself. I called to say I would be back tomorrow and they told me I must return with a Dr note (although I have no insurance until 6 months) to work and that I will continue on the 1st floor. I have to gown up for 6 of those residents....ofcourse since I am new I get most of the isolations..feedings, turnings, etc.

I feel this job is costing my health and my Dr visit for my note will be $130.00...half my check (and I missed 3 days) Whoever told me CNA was a good way into healthcare was very wrong. I am considering a new field ASAP.

Krissy

thanks krissy, hope you don't mind my bumping it to this post also... and i hope you are feeling better soon... and don't rebound!!! welcome to nursing!:p

i actually started this thread for someone who needs our support b/c of getting sick on the job and will be a long time recovering... i'm sure all of us can relate to the fear of getting sick as well as actually getting sick on the job and not compensated.... etc.:o

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Specializes in Renal, Haemo and Peritoneal.
a month or so ago i walked into a confused pt's room to answer a ringing IV pump to find her pumping blood into her bed from her extracted central line site. she had pulled it out leaving it hanging on by it's suture and had lost quite a bit of blood so it was everywhere. of course i grabbed up her sheet and put pressure on the wound and called out for help. i was in the thick of it and without gloves!!!

we secured the wound after getting gauze and holding pressure, removed the suture and placed a pressure dressing... of course we all wore gloves except when i first came in and took action... no time for gloves when your pt is in danger!

so i washed and washed and it seems that i had no exposure my body couldn't handle.... but it is still so appearant to me that our job requires us to accept the high risk of exposure as routine and we are not compensated when our job does make us sick.

so if we get TB or AIDS or Hep C will we loose our jobs?

At the risk of sounding glib. I work in an environment where large blood exposure is a risk everyday. I and my colleagues have been "ordered" to NOT expose ourselves to blood at anytime. It is only a short time that it takes to get some gloves on the hands. Nobody will bleed o death in such a short time.

My facility also stipulates no CPR without a mask. Don't forget it is a job and you have to look after yourself in line with workplace health and safety standards.

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At the risk of sounding glib. I work in an environment where large blood exposure is a risk everyday. I and my colleagues have been "ordered" to NOT expose ourselves to blood at anytime. It is only a short time that it takes to get some gloves on the hands. Nobody will bleed o death in such a short time.

My facility also stipulates no CPR without a mask. Don't forget it is a job and you have to look after yourself in line with workplace health and safety standards.

i think you are right, but hind sight is 20/20... also you may think about your hospital's rules a different way...you can't sue them for workman's comp etc if you get exposure when you don't follow their ideally written guide lines. we work in the real world and we can't always expect people to keep their blood, sputum, etc. etc. to themselves just b/c we aren't gowned and gloved and masked!

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I believe that nurses should get FREE medical coverage.......it might attract more to our profession........yes, I have brought home a few nasties that I wish had stayed at work........I have noticed too---- that the heat goes on, the heat goes off, the AC goes on, the AC goes off......we need to open a few windows instead of recycling the same air over and over again........

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At the risk of sounding glib. I work in an environment where large blood exposure is a risk everyday. I and my colleagues have been "ordered" to NOT expose ourselves to blood at anytime. It is only a short time that it takes to get some gloves on the hands. Nobody will bleed o death in such a short time.

My facility also stipulates no CPR without a mask. Don't forget it is a job and you have to look after yourself in line with workplace health and safety standards.

I try to keep gloves on my person at all times, I fill my pockets at the beginning and replenish as necessary, only takes seconds to pull out and put on.

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i like the idea of having a pair of gloves in my pocet, for quick use and leave them there for that, using the box for the usual needs, i think i will adopt that idea... it would've helped in my earlier situation i posted.

has any one on this board contracted a life changing disease from work or been injured on the job and now you are dealing with the reprocutions..... what would really happen if i was unable to return to work due to this?... can we count on our hospital to compensate us... or do we have to force them? how about our peers.... would they stick by us or move on?

say if i was drawing blood from a femoral line following all of the proper techniques and my pt kicked a knee up at the wrong time... i was stuck through my gloves and contracted aids... what then?

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