6 Things Nurses Can Do To Avoid Getting Sick

You are exposed to communicable disease every shift, which puts you at higher risk than almost anyone. Nurses still get sick like everyone else. Here are six ways to keep your immune system working and cut down the downtime.

1. Improve your gut health

Your gastrointestinal tract is part of your immune system, keeping pathogens and toxins out of your circulation. Enough good bacteria in your gut also makes you more resistant to infection. Load up on probiotics, either as a supplement or through fermented foods like fermented tea and vegetables.

2. Clean everything you touch

You don't need to throw everything in the wash, but wiping down high-contact items like your phone and keyboard with a disinfecting wipe keeps infections at bay. These surfaces harbor microorganisms you can't see. Do it year round, not just during flu season, and especially after someone else has handled your things.

3. Breathe out

If you are not masked and you pass someone sneezing or coughing, hold your breath for five to 10 seconds or take a long exhale. Infectious droplets travel farther than you would expect, and inhaling too soon means inhaling them. Don't return to that spot immediately. Give the droplets a few seconds to settle.

One ward nurse put it simply: "I always wear a mask when I'm on duty. Coughing and sneezing are reflexes, so you never know when someone's going to sneeze or cough at you."

4. Avoid handshaking and hugging

Declining a handshake or hug in the hospital is not bad manners. Close contact makes disease transmission faster and easier. When a handshake is unavoidable, wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

5. Load up on vitamin C

Whether you are treating a cold or trying to prevent one, foods rich in vitamin C are a reliable bet. Kiwi, berries, and citrus are among the best sources. If fruit isn't convenient at work, supplements work too. The amount you need depends on your age.

6. Get the shot

Some institutions require the flu shot because of the risk nurses face, and it protects both you and your patients from catching the flu from you. Like any vaccine it carries its own small risks, including a rare association with Guillain-Barre syndrome, and natural immunity does not guarantee you won't get sick anyway.