Working with the sick - how do you keep yourself healthy?

[RNpandoraRN]

I've worked in both a hospital and a daycare, and it seems like I picked up every "bug" that was brought in! Common colds, flu, nosocomial infections, etc etc. How do you stay healthy working in the medical field? :chair:

[Katnip, RN]

Wash your hands. A lot. Use masks if necessary, and just kind of roll with the punches. The worst is the first year or two in ER. You pick up everything coming in the door until your immunity is built up enough.

[onesmallspark]

Ooooooo..... good question. I'm really interested in seeing what people say. My former roommate worked at a nursing home and it always ended up that I was the one getting sick from whatever it was that she "brought home". I wasn't even IN the healthcare field. She always seemed to stay well - I guess maybe she just had a stronger immune system than I did...

[Katnip, RN]

That's called paraoccupational exposure. When the worker brings things home with them. Fortunately, my family is pretty strong and nobody has come down with anything.

Like I said, through enough exposure, healthcare workers will develop immunity to most things.

Handwashing is a realy big one, after each and every patient before you do anything else. Keep your gear clean; stethoscopes, scissors, etc. Don't let your family play with them.

Take care of yourself; eat right, get enough sleep, stress reduction.

But remember, on the floors, (not emergency department) most patients are there for things that are not communicable; surgery, COPD, injuries, cancer, etc. Those who do have something you can catch are well known and have precautions beyond the standard ones.