How often do nurses get sick?

So when being on the ward with Ill patients , bugs and viruses.
How often are you guys struck down with illness ? Obviously being a nurse I'd imagine you all do your best to keep your immune systems in tip top condition. I'm just keen to know

Ooh, I'd like to hear the answers to this question as well :smile:

I've edited the title to help you get replies. :smile:

Reply 3

Emily_B

15

Original post by rachycee

So when being on the ward with Ill patients , bugs and viruses.
How often are you guys struck down with illness ? Obviously being a nurse I'd imagine you all do your best to keep your immune systems in tip top condition. I'm just keen to know

Not as often as peope think - decent and frequent handwashing does a lot to help, as does PPE.

Reply 4

Tracey_W

17

Original post by Emily_B

Not as often as peope think - decent and frequent handwashing does a lot to help, as does PPE.

Exactly Emily,
Good hand washing routines are top of the list of stopping spread of viruses within a hospital ward. PPE is also essential part - making sure you take it of once finished with the particular patient before attending another one where you put on fresh PPE.
Not coming to work when you have flu/cold until you are better is first part of stopping the spread of viruses.

Reply 5

Tracey_W

17

Original post by rachycee

So when being on the ward with Ill patients , bugs and viruses.
How often are you guys struck down with illness ? Obviously being a nurse I'd imagine you all do your best to keep your immune systems in tip top condition. I'm just keen to know

As you'll find out in due course yourself when you start your nursing degree.

If you are feeling unwell with a cold/ flu then I wouldn't think about going into a hospital ward environment knowing that I could possibly cause a major outbreak by spreading your germs everywhere in a sterile place. Therefore you stay away from work until you are 100% better ( yes you'll need to call in sick) .

Even if you keep your body immune system in tip top condition you can still catch viruses.
You know that people who get the flu vaccine can still catch the flu and cold as it only prevents you getting severely ill 🤧 🤧 🤧 🤧.

You better waiting until you start your nursing degree in September and find out everything.
That's the best way of learning about nursing....... Not getting random replies from social media sites.

Reply 6

Tracey_W

17

Original post by iL1L

Ooh, I'd like to hear the answers to this question as well :smile:

I would like the OP to explain this much better.

Reply 7

catchrylie

17

I wear my PPE as well as a mask. I take my supplements. Vitamins C & E as well as Garlic, Elderberry, and Zinc. I take them along with my multi vitamin, my prescriptions, and my baby vitamins since I'm pregnant. I'm also fully vaccinated and need to get my COVID and flu shots since my job as an ED nurse requires it.

Reply 8

Tracey_W

17

Original post by catchrylie

I wear my PPE as well as a mask. I take my supplements. Vitamins C & E as well as Garlic, Elderberry, and Zinc. I take them along with my multi vitamin, my prescriptions, and my baby vitamins since I'm pregnant. I'm also fully vaccinated and need to get my COVID and flu shots since my job as an ED nurse requires it.

Glad to hear that you are taking all the precautions that you can do especially with you being pregnant. Definitely get your vaccines of COVID and flu as it will protect you and your unborn baby 🐥 🐥.

Congrats on your pregnancy and hopefully everything will go well for you when the time of giving birth arrives.

NHS midwife.

Original post by rachycee

So when being on the ward with Ill patients , bugs and viruses.
How often are you guys struck down with illness ? Obviously being a nurse I'd imagine you all do your best to keep your immune systems in tip top condition. I'm just keen to know

Hiya 👋

Taking care of your health is really important. I've been working in a hospital lab for the past year, so we might not be patient facing but things can certainly spread around a hospital environment.

I'd recommend keeping up to date with all your vaccines. Fortunately the NHS do offer free vaccines to staff, especially around the cold and flu season. I signed up with occupational health and got my seasonal flu jab and covid booster as it's all beneficial to your immune system.

When I first started working at the hospital, for the first few months it felt like I was ill all the time. I picked up every little cold that was going around but now I haven't been ill once since December.

When you are working on the wards, handling waste and caring for patients you are exposed to a lot. Using PPE is incredibly important, as is changing your PPE regularly. Avoid touching your face, always wash your hands when you enter and leave a ward. Use hand sanitiser between patients to avoid spreading any possible bugs from patient to patient. You might be protected with your PPE but it is also your duty to protect your patients. You will be taught about cross contamination and health and hygiene at the levels that are required for your particular ward.

Best wishes
Essex Student Rep - Hayley

Reply 10

catchrylie

17

Original post by Tracey_W

Glad to hear that you are taking all the precautions that you can do especially with you being pregnant. Definitely get your vaccines of COVID and flu as it will protect you and your unborn baby 🐥 🐥.
Congrats on your pregnancy and hopefully everything will go well for you when the time of giving birth arrives.
NHS midwife.

Thank you for the congratulations. :hugs:

I take all the precautions I can. I've had COVID 3 times. No fun. Each time I picked it up, it was at work.

I see my midwife on Friday in the morning for my 11 week appointment. I'm excited to see the ultrasound.

Reply 11

Tracey_W

17

Original post by catchrylie

Thank you for the congratulations. :hugs:

I take all the precautions I can. I've had COVID 3 times. No fun. Each time I picked it up, it was at work.
I see my midwife on Friday in the morning for my 11 week appointment. I'm excited to see the ultrasound.

You are welcome 🤗 🤗 for the congratulations of your upcoming new arrival.

Yes that's all you can do is take all the necessary precaution you can do, keeping yourself and your unborn baby save is the important thing for you at all times, just be careful with what you are doing at work especially when you get further into your pregnancy.

That's the thing you don't know exactly where you catch COVID from ( although you said you caught it at work but you might have actually picked it up elsewhere). I don't thank anyone who had COVID because it is not a nice thing to catch 🫴.

Hope everything goes well with your pregnancy appointments throughout for you. It's very exciting when you see your baby inside you at the scan and you might get the opportunity to know what you are having but it's your choice.

Reply 12

moonkatt

19

I’ve had a few rides on the Covid train 😂

First time I’m pretty sure I got it off my colleague in work, I can even remember him remarking that he couldn’t taste his lunch and thinking “oh dear, here we go”.

Second time was after everywhere had opened up so can’t say it was work. Third time I was on leave (which extended into me being off for six months as this time it messed me up).

Ultimately, you are exposed to infections working in healthcare. It’s why we have certain precautions to mitigate risk, specially if we are aware of someone having something potentially unpleasant. Using appropriate PPE at the right time and doing things like effective hand hygiene are the best ways to avoid catching anything yourself.

How often do nurses get sick?

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