As a travel nurse, you’ve likely heard every piece of cautionary advice about staving off the flu: wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face and stay away from infected individuals.
However, as a healthcare provider, you can’t exactly adhere to that last tip. The nature of your job requires you to be around sick people.
Unfortunately, this means you run the risk of catching a virus or passing it between patients, especially during flu season. Here are three ways you and your medical team can protect yourselves against the flu:
1. Get a flu vaccine
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting an annual flu vaccine is the No. 1 way to protect yourself against the virus. Aim to get your vaccination before flu season or as soon as the vaccines are ready. The CDC noted that flu season typically runs from December to February in the U.S. However, as the saying goes, it’s better late than never. The vaccine is safe for anyone over the age of 6 months, and the CDC noted that vaccination is especially important for high-risk individuals like seniors, young kids and people who work in healthcare facilities – like you!
2. Brown bag it – and make sure it’s healthy
Is a cupcake really worth the congestion, headaches, fever and chills that accompany the flu? If you answered no, then don’t be tempted by any food left in the break room at work. Bringing in birthday treats or leftovers from last night’s dinner to share with co-workers is a nice gesture, but it also creates the perfect environment for the spread of pathogens. Think about it: How often do people subconsciously lick icing off their fingers after picking up a cupcake full of frosting? If they go in for seconds, they may contaminate other cupcakes. Even worse, nail biters contribute to the problem with their first pick. There are many ways a tray full of sweets can quickly go south, so it’s best to avoid them altogether by bringing your own lunch.
When you pack your afternoon meal, make sure it fits into a well-balanced diet. According to Harvard Medical School, this step can help boost your immunity as taking care of your overall well-being goes a long way in staving off illnesses like the flu. Be sure to pack plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and foods low in saturated fat in your lunch. Remember, it’s not only what goes in your meal that matters but also how much you eat. Being both underweight and overweight can contribute to a compromised immune system, and nurses are known for skimping on lunch breaks to make time for patients. Sure, swapping out a sandwich for a granola bar may better fit your busy schedule, but it will hurt your health in the long run. And of course, always wash your hands before digging in.
3. Clean everything
You know you’re supposed to wash your hands, but what about everything they touch? Each day, you pick up your keys, wallet and phone, you open your car door and grab the steering wheel, you type at your computer and you handle the TV remote. When is the last time you cleaned any of those items?
A Wall Street Journal investigation tested the bacteria on phones from a Chicago office. The researchers found that all the devices had an unusually high amount of coliform, between 2,700 and 4,200 units. While nurses and other healthcare professionals would know that hand washing and proper hygiene helps prevent coliform and other fecal-contamination bacteria from spreading on phones, disinfecting objects you touch every day can still help prevent the flu.
In fact, registered nurse Shawn Westadt Mueller, director of infection prevention and control at Medstar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, told Prevention that healthcare professionals should even consider the cleanliness of their washing machines. Throwing in two tablespoons of white vinegar alongside the detergent can help rid the machine of bacteria that may have collected in the dark, moist environment.
To stay happy and healthy this flu season, it’s important for nurses to take care of their own well-being.