Every career has its inherent risks and responsibilities, and nursing is no different. Because you are working directly with patients who are ill, and because you spend so much time doing physically challenging work, your risks of disease and injury increase, especially after years of work. For nursing students, it’s best to be aware of these risks and develop good habits early, beginning with your clinicals and internship experiences.
- Fatigue: Like doctors, many nurses work overtime hours or may be on-call during the weekends or evenings. Nursing students have it even worse, since they are often juggling school, work, and family all at once. Getting good rest and eating right are essential in staying in top form—otherwise, you run the risk of greater workplace injuries (to you and your patients).
- Disease/Illnesses: Many of the patients you will treat have infectious complaints transmitted by the air, blood, or bodily fluids. Regular immunizations, handwashing, and following workplace guidelines will all help to keep your exposure low. Usually, the first two years of nursing are the worst for getting sick; after awhile, you tend to have more natural immunities and should enjoy better overall health.
- Exposure to Drug-Resistant Organisms: One of the biggest risks to nurses is exposure to the worst kin of “bugs” there are. In a hospital setting, many of the viruses develop the ability to resist common medications, and outbreaks can be serious.
- Physical Injuries: About half of all nurses will have a back injury at some point in their career. The most important thing to do is get the help you need right away so that a mild complaint doesn’t turn into something more serious. Other types of injuries to the body are often caused by repetition, heavy lifting, or standing for too many hours at a time.
- Chemical Toxins: Many different types of chemicals are used for cleaning, disinfecting, or taking care of patients. If used improperly, these have the potential to injure a nurse on the job.
Although this list of nursing hazards might seem a little scary at first, it’s important to remember that many different safeguards are in place to prevent minor mishaps from developing into a larger health problem. Take the time in your nursing classes to pay attention to policies, procedures, and protocol related to nursing health issues, and incorporate these into your workplace habits from day one.
Nursing can be a long and viable career, as long as you treat yourself right. Don’t be afraid to seek help for your ailments or to ask for time off to keep yourself in optimal health.
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