I take grapefruit seed extract regularly. It's very good for preventing a variety of bugs, viral, bacterial, and fungal. You can buy it in your local health food store. The brand that I use is called Advantage Liquid Concentrate and is made by a company called Wisdom of the Ages. I usually put a couple of drops (4-5) in cranberry juice (it doesn't taste very good).

wash your hands. between every single patient.

If you are prone to getting sick really fast. Take alot of vitamin C. Avoid close rooms, where their isn't enough ventilation. Use mask if you come across a person that is very contagious. Wash hands constantly, use alcohol-base santizers. I hope this helped.

this is all great advice, though for the last person above me I thought when you leave the room of an infectious person you're suppose to take off the gloves first? That's what they've taught us at least in PPE removal. Gloves, eyewear, mask, gown, head cover I believe is what we are taught. I just finished my test over safety, nursing process, and infection control, so I gotta get back to it!

Thanks again everyone

anotherangie says ...

esaylors says ...

this is all great advice, though for the last person above me I thought when you leave the room of an infectious person you're suppose to take off the gloves first? That's what they've taught us at least in PPE removal. Gloves, eyewear, mask, gown, head cover I believe is what we are taught. I just finished my test over safety, nursing process, and infection control, so I gotta get back to it!

Thanks again everyone

Read again, I said "Why would they take off the gloves first?  That baffles me. "  This looks fairly self explanatory. 

 

  "This looks fairly self explanatory"     was that necessary?

Righty, there laura...............there's been alot of cdiff in my area as well.  Great advice.  At alot of the grocery stores they provide wipes to sanitize the shopping cart............Id use these in lieu of the sanitizing gell as well. 

anotherangie says ...

esaylors says ...

this is all great advice, though for the last person above me I thought when you leave the room of an infectious person you're suppose to take off the gloves first? That's what they've taught us at least in PPE removal. Gloves, eyewear, mask, gown, head cover I believe is what we are taught. I just finished my test over safety, nursing process, and infection control, so I gotta get back to it!

Thanks again everyone

Read again, I said "Why would they take off the gloves first?  That baffles me. "  This looks fairly self explanatory, as in I'm baffled why healthcare professionals do not correctly us universal precautions.  YES, you are suppose to take the gloves off last.  BTW, nurses in the hospital get 'snotty' when you correct them about precautions as to other disciplinies  2 weeks ago, a resp. therapist came out of a room with contact precautions  <the door is labled, the gear is in an attached cabinet on the door> so its hard to miss.  I asked her if she realized the pt was on precautions...............her reply was 'I was just in there for a minute".  Its hard to be the 'bad guy' in reporting something like this.  But the therapist had alot of MY patients.  If she passed mrsa to one of them, I did not want to be liable for this foul up.

I was in no way attacking you or trying to correct anyone, I've been in nursing school for 3 weeks I have no room to talk. I was just asking because I was confused.  Everything I've read says take off the gloves first when you leave the area.

All great advice. Also eat well, drink plenty of fluids, and wear a mask when either someone else is sick, or you are sick. Handwashing is nursing 101. Could try holding your breath if all else fails ...LOL!

Esaylors................. you're a student and I'm sorry I had a smart mouth reply.  As a student  in clinicals, you're instructors are the best source of info while in clinicals.  My advice to all students, do NOT let grumpy nurses like me bother you................I also advise you to not learn bad habits from the healthcare workers you might be precepting with.  Scary thought there:  a preceptor teaching me wrong stuff?"  If you get a gut feeling that your preceptors are performing unsafe shortcuts, take your instructor aside and talk to him/her about it.  It could be something as simple as 'I think my preceptor did dressing changes on 2 different patients and didnt wash her hands inbetween."  Dont blow off gut feelings!  One more thing................at the facility I work at they dont separate vacation days with sick days.  Since I'm a germaphobe, I get sick rarely..................so I use the majority of my paid days off for goofing off, best thing is I can plan for it in advance and get paid...............now isn't that better than using up my paid time by depleting my inventory of boxes of kleenex for snot rags?

i agree handwashing is the best precaution.... and just general exposure.... you might not get it the first time.... but if you have been exposed its gonna decrease your chances!!!!

anotherangie says ...

I have a phobia about cooties myself.  I do constant handwashing, therefore my cuticles are always totally dried out!  I avoid crowded places; When I have a patient with contact precautions........................I mummyfy myself in the gear. I've seen nurses removed their protective gear incorrectly.  Why would they take off the gloves first?  That baffles me.  I avoid sick people..........even in my own family.  Right now my husband has a respiratory infection of some kind right now.  He has to sit in his 'designated chair', he's been banished to the guest room and guest bathroom;  I have designated 1 phone for his use next to HIS chair, and I watch tv in the bedroom because his cooties are on the remote in the den.  I know.............I probably need treatment for going over the edge a bit.  Thing is...............with the exception of emergent surgery after an MVA, I haven't had to call in sick for over 3 years.  Plus...........the vitamins I take are 'Flintstones'........for a few reasons :1.  cheap.  2.  md's recommend them for gastric bypass because they can complete their nutritional requirements. 3.  cheap.  4. they dont make me gag.  FYI, I  havent had gastric bypass, I dont need it..............but that's what md's  recomending to our patients who have had the procedure. 

I haven't taken Microbiology yet, but seen others that have and have seen the stuff they have grown.  I have now have some cootie phobia now too.  I carry my antibacterial gel on my backpack and use it all the time.  I use to take Flintstones vitamins when I was a kid.  I will try those again.  Has anyone ever tried "Airborne"?

Handwashing, As soon as my kids get home I make them wash their hands before doing anything.  I also take air borne, I swear by that!!!

I agree with the handwashing between each client. I just finished clinicals for this semester and didn't get sick during the time. I did get sick on three different occasions this semester from fellow students in my class. I finally asked my instructor for a face mask for class. (Respiratory virus just continued to spread around class over and over.) Stress levels are causing weakened immune systems. I need a vacation.lol

I really do believe that exposure is the best way to keep from getting sick again.  I don't mean go and expose yourself though.  I've always noticed that when ever I start a new job, I get sick right away.  The last thing you want to do is call out sick at a new job!!

I did infection control at a hospital, there was a lot of spy work involved.  Nurses and CNA's were always the most compliant, but I bagged many doctors!

The department I had the most difficulty with was housekeeping.  I noticed VRE spread from one room to three in a row!  I strongly suspect it was housekeeping using the same dirty water to wash the floors.  I tried to get the hospital to let me culture the water and they thought I was nuts!  Maybe I was a little paranoid.

Remember, hand sanitizer won't kill c-diff.  Was first then use the hand sanitizer.

I absolutely freak out when I see a Foley on the floor! 

Try not to let your clothes touch the bed rails if you can help it, they are disgusting!  I used to take my shoes off before I went into my house!

Now I sound really crazy I know!  Micro is enough to make anyone paranoid and crazy!

I remember a long time ago a very seasoned nurse told me, that not smoking was a big key to not getting colds.    Obviously handwashing too.  But in general taking care of your body...eating right, not smoking, getting a good nights rest, help keep your immune system up to speed.