Rest up and try these natu- ral remedies for cold and flu season Apart from pushing fluids, use cough drops and over-the-count- er medications to treat colds and coughs that are coming on. Other things that could help are steam from a hot bath or shower or us- ing vapor chest rubs to clear the sinuses. Don’t push through long clinical shifts with these symptoms, as minor as they seem. Rest and sleep are important for the heal- ing process when you’re coming down with something, as nurses know better than anyone. Don’t call out, but do consider changing schedules or switching shifts with someone else if you can when you’re sick. Nurses who work in fields with vul - nerable patients like the terminally ill, very young, or elderly should be especially cautious not to come to work sick if they can avoid it. These patients can get sick more easily and suffer more from it, plus that will add to the upper-respiratory illnesses floating around during cold and flu season. Cold and flu season hand washing Finally, and possibly most impor- tantly, nurses need to remember to wash their hands. Our instructors drill this into us during nurse train- ing, but how often are you washing your hands thoroughly at home? Take your nursing skills outside of clinical practice and wash hands frequently, use alcohol rub, and perform regular surface cleaning at home to prevent germs from spreading.
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It’s also ideal to wash your scrubs and take showers frequently–pref- erably after every shift. Remember, the cold virus can live on surfaces like clothes or body parts, even if you did your best to stay clean during the workday.
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