Stay Healthy: Avoid Colds and Flu On The Job

Nurses and other health care professionals spend the day surrounded by people who are sick, and since they are human, it's not uncommon for nurses to find themselves battling to stay well themselves. Considering the recent outbreaks of Swine Flu (Influenza A/H1N1), taking proactive steps to stay healthy and strong on the job is more important than ever.

Many hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities have created their own infection control programs. These are steps and/or processes put into practice in the event of the outbreak of highly infectious diseases and infections, and not only include practices for handling patients, but also for handling internal staff.

Keeping Yourself Healthy On The Job

Here are some basic tips for helping you stay healthy on the job. While some of these steps may seem almost elementary, it is important that each step be taken to help to not only protect yourself but to protect your patients and their visitors.

Proper Hand Washing

It goes without saying that washing our hands regularly is one of the single most important aspects of reducing the spread of sickness. Nurses tend to have good habits when it comes to washing our hands, but the odd time we might forget. Simply touching counters, carts, beds, sheets, and holding the hands of the patients you are treating and comforting can mean you are exposed to infection.

Wash your hands after handling any equipment.
Wash your hands before and after contacting any patients or visitors.
Wash your hands after removing gloves.
Be aware of what you touch. If you touch your face or mouth often, now would be a good time to break the habit with a simple rule – do not touch yourself above the neck if you can help it. If you do, it's time to wash your hands.

Keep Surfaces Clean

The Swine Flu is thought to be spread through coughing and sneezing. It's unfortunate but true that many people cough into their hands and then touch counters, doorknobs, coffee machines, radio knobs, coffee room refrigerator handles, pens….basically everything! Each touch means a potential risk. This is why it is critical that surfaces be kept as clean as possible. Using anti-bacterial gel, foam or spray can help reduce the risk of infection.

Believe it or not, if you have the opportunity to wash the bottle or nozzle of the germ-killing gel or foam you use in the coffee room, you should do so. Dirty hands touch the bottle over and over. Give the bottle itself a quick rinse.

Take Care Of Your Health

Taking care of your general health can help you fight off colds, flu, and other infections you might come into contact with. Here are some tips to help you boost your health and keep you strong.

Eat Healthy Foods

Shift workers are notorious for eating poorly, and let's face it, hospital cafeterias aren't the best for healthy selection. Be sure to do your best to pack good lunches and snacks, and to cook healthy and fresh foods at home. Buying fresh fruits and vegetables and eating them as a snack is a great way to get your vitamins. We have a couple of articles at MNU to help you along the way including: shift work wellness--eating right, preparing shift work snacks, and make ahead meals for busy people.

Get More Sleep

It's a fact that people who do not get enough sleep often suffer from weakened immune systems. If you tend to stay up late to watch television or simply got into the habit of sleeping less than 6 hours per night, make an effort to get to bed earlier and rest more.

Boost Your Immune System

Vitamin A – Vitamin A is known to help boost the immune system. This helps your body fight infection by building your supply of white blood cells. It also helps your skin and various mucous membranes work as an effective barrier to bacteria and viruses. Vitamin A is found in fruits and vegetables that are brightly colored, such as broccoli, sweet potato, spinach, collard greens, eggs, carrots and liver.

Echinacea – Although research continues, this little flowering herb is available as a dietary supplement as an immnune booster. A lot of people swear by it saying Echinacea helps shorten the duration of any cold or flu you might catch. During cold and flu season it is recommended you take Echinacea just before you actually get sick.

Garlic – Yes, the smelly clove itself is said to contain several immune system boosting and anti-bacterial elements. Trusted for centuries, herbalists and naturopaths have trusted garlic to help prevent infection and illness. While raw garlic is certainly the very best, smelling like garlic on the job might not be a good idea. There are several odorless garlic supplements on the market that will do the trick, without alienating your co-workers. At home you can try adding raw garlic to your salads, salads, and sauces.

Vitamin C – While there really isn't enough scientific evidence that mega-doses of Vitamin C will help prevent you from catching a cold or the flu, what we do know is that Vitamin C is essential for a healthy immune system. Good sources include fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, papayas, strawberries, lemons, red peppers, blackberries, and broccoli, to name a few.

What If You Are Already Sick?

The rule is simple – stay home. If you find yourself feeling a little under the weather, remember that you are not doing anyone any favors by being a hero and going to work. Patients with already compromised immune systems are in the hospital battling their own sickness, and what they do not need is for their healthcare professional to be just as sick…or sicker. And pushing through a long shift when you're not feeling very good is a sure way to weaken yourself and make yourself sicker. Go on..stay home..rest..sleep!

If your co-workers are sick, don't hesitate to ask them to take steps to protect you and your other co-workers from getting sick. Remind them to wash their hands, to avoid coughing and touching surfaces, and of course, if possible, encourage them to go home and stay home until they are well. If you come down with a sickness before heading home be sure to be courteous to others by coughing in your elbow (not your hands or in the air around your face), carrying tissue paper, and washing hands frequently.

You are a healthcare professional and people are counting on you to help them. Take steps to protect yourself and take care of yourself as your number one priority. With proper nutrition, good sleep, and a few simple hand-washing and hygienic work place steps, you can stay healthy on the job!