<p>Or is it just me? Lol. Every time I read about those lovely young nurses I think of my daughter who was just accepted into nursing school. It’s not that I don’t want her to undertake this career. I’m proud that she wants to even though I understand now that there are real risks involved in the profession. But I’m thinking about those young nurses all the time which I’m sure would not be true if me daughter had chosen a different field. </p>
<p>There are many fields that our kids can go into that can put them in potential harms way–even teaching, construction, all kinds of different jobs. It’s understandable that you would identify with the nurses, since that’s a field that your D is planning to pursue. There are a lot of different possibilities in nursing–working in an academic setting, working in a school, working in a private office, NOT working with highly contagious diseases OR working with them. None of us have a good crystal ball.</p>
<p>It’s no difference then AIDs years ago. My brother carpooled with somebody whose daughter was stabbed accidentally by an infected needle. Sad thing is she was engaged to be married to a doctor. I don’t know what happened to her because I moved after that.</p>
<p>It really really depends on where the nurse works. There are many different places within a hospital, most of which won’t come into contact with patients with infectious diseases.</p>
<p>My mom has been a nurse (mostly in the ER) for the last 30 years. The worst kind of infectious diseases she comes into contact with is tuberculosis. I don’t know of specifically the cases of what happened in Spain, France, and Texas, but it obviously was because the nurses were working with infected patients.</p>
<p>The Ebola news is scary. Hopefully safety cautions will continue to evolve. Try not to get too concerned yet. </p>
<p>After the CT school shooting, there were parents worried about their kids that wanted to be teachers. No profession is totally safe. </p>
<p>My relative worked with AIDS patients in SF when there were still very few treatments for the condition. My folks had fits and struggled to be supportive, but it all worked out for him and neither he nor anyone at UCSF got AIDS, even though they worked with bodily fluids as part of their regular work. It went with the turf for him, though some of the other healthcare workers refused to be around AIDS patients which significantly increased his workload, since he had to do duties that would normally be done by others as well as his duties as the physician in charge.</p>
<p>There is a great potential (unfortuantely) for an engineer working in a field (factory floor) being killed or crippled by some industrial type of disaster at the place. We do not hear many of them and most companies are taking great care of it and have a safety as priority #1, base the bonuses on the safety performance. However, nobody can guarantee 100% and most of the ones are usually connected to human error.
So, my question to moms of future ENGINEERS:is this fact freaking you out?</p>
<p>How about the simple fact that we all have to drive to and from work every day. The autoaccidents and specifically at the busy time accounted for much more deaths than many deseases.
So, my question to moms of future EMPLOYEES:is this fact freaking you out?</p>
<p>Well, it is apparent, that we can continue in this manner practically forever.
The fact is that staying at home and doing nothing is practically the worst schenario, since it will definitely kill much sooner than any hazards above for the lack of physical activity, for depression, isolation,…etc.</p>
<p>So, as death is inevitable part of life, my question is what do you choose to die from? We will all die. for most part, we do not have a choice how, but we have a bit of control over it. And I am not sure at all that those are correct who think that living the life that is dictated by circumstances and not by your own desires and dreams may lead to a longer and more satisfying life. Frankly, I personally escaped the life that was dictated to me by circumstances while taking huge risks, and I am very happy that I did. I just do not see it any other way, but it is based solely on my personal experience… </p>
<p>Just know that nurses who work in hospital settings come into contact with all sorts of diseases! They work fingers to the bone & the pay is usually not commensurate with what they have to deal with on a daily basis. Let’s not mention the HUGE amount of responsibility that they have on their shoulders. Most don’t realize what nurses out up with for say $25-$40/hour? Depending on your experience level & location. Nurses don’t get paid for nearly as much as they are responsible for. </p>
<p>She is probably better off becoming an APRN. Higher salary, less hands on, physical work. </p>
<p>Too late to edit-- </p>
<p>Most people don’t realize what nurses put up with for $25-$40/hr.</p>
<p>My daughter is currently in a nurse practitioner program in a major city. She is currently working her preceptorship in the department she hopes to work in , once she has graduated. I’m not particularly worried about where she is now ( postpartum maternity ) The thought has crossed my mind , but then I also worry about my daughters living in a major city as far as potential terror attacks too……It’s hard to keep it in perspective as a mother…we are hardwired for worrying</p>
<p>It appears the Dallas Hospital screwed up in many ways. One person on the news showed how hospitals in West Africa are using much more extensive protective gear for their staff than was used in Dallas. Apparently, the proper gear in Dallas was “on order” including protective plastic shields for the entire head, as opposed to masks. When protection is jerry-rigged, such as using tape around wrists, it is easier to spread the virus while removing the gear. Hopefully, all hospitals will have learned their lesson and will be much better prepared to protect their staff.</p>
<p>If my child was a nurse, I’d be far more concerned about the overworked, underpaid conditions that she’ll likely face rather than the remote chance of ANY deadly virus (let alone Ebola). </p>
<p>The stress that nurses are under is unbelievable. </p>
<p>Every profession has risks. As romani says, I’d be way more concerned about the remote chance they will get Ebola/</p>
<p>I would be very concerned if our kids became chemists. Thank god one chose medicine and the other epidemiology! </p>
<p><a href=“Karen Wetterhahn - Wikipedia”>http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wetterhahn</a></p>
<p>My daughter works in the emergency room of a hospital. I am far more worried about her hurting her back moving a heavy patient (the rising problems of obesity really hits nurses hard - moving heavy patients is really tough on their backs). And then there’s the risk of contracting enterovirus which has actually hit our town, unlike ebola, which so far, has not.</p>
<p>In several of the hospitals I am familiar with, nurses are no longer allowed to life “heavy” patients and call for the heavy lifting crew to do it, which I’m sure is good for the nurses and is likely saving a lot of injuries. Obesity is indeed a huge issue. It is one of the reasons a friend’s D was not doing well with her physical therapy training–most of her patients were morbidly obese and she was frequently injured working with them (she was very light and thin).</p>
<p>All of the girls in my H’s physical therapy program are so tiny! I am guessing they are going to need the PT aids to step in and assist in these situations frequently. </p>
<p>Part of the reason I am convinced my brother in-laws (twins) will be hired right away when they are done with nursing school is because they are both 6’7"+ and 250 lbs. I wonder if they will be called to step in and help with these patients! </p>
<p>Size DOES matter for some jobs, especially as patients get larger and heavier. Many of the successful physical therapists I know are “sturdy” and not “tiny.” I suppose if you are going to be ONLY working with small people (like young kids). Very few PTs I know get to pick and choose which clients they have, especially when just starting out. </p>
<p>Being big and tall can be a big advantage when you need to help move and manipulate larger patients, some of whom are morbidly obese and have limited mobililty. My internist recently purchased examining tables rated for up to 500 pounds, just because patients keep getting heavier and it’s a huge liability in case the table breaks.</p>
<p>OK, back to the thread.</p>
<p>With all of that being said, H wants to work as a PT in a hospital. I guess there is always going to be a risk working in an environment that takes care of very ill patients, even if you come down with the cold or flu during that season like other posters mentioned. I am a little more concerned with H being in this environment - but I am confident something will be done to prevent this outbreak from spreading. </p>
<p>Being a good PT, nurse, MD and other healthcare professional can be very gratifying. My relatives and other loved ones in the healthcare profession get a lot of job satisfaction and are frequently in the hospital. They are so far not spooked by all that they’ve had to work with, including AIDS patients and have remained healthy.</p>