Studies: nurse and CF

Question

What are the areas of health where a nurse with CF can work? Such as intensive care units

Answer

Hello,
The question you ask is sensible to answer. The health professions, like nurse, are opened to patients with cystic fibrosis. The nursing profession, however, raises the question of the potential risks of contamination by multi-resistant germs, seasonal viruses and mycobacterium: a question of two types: the protection of individuals with cystic fibrosis and the protection of patients.
When you come at the hospital to consult, you are advised to wear a mask and to wash your hands in order to limit cross-infection: to protect yourself and to protect the other patients. Working as a nurse in hospital near patients will never be without risk. The degree of this risk will depend on the germs in your sputum, their degree of resistance and production of your sputum, and profile of patients you will encounter.
Washing hands and wearing masks for staff and patients with multi-resistant germs are part of the measures now widely used in health care services: these measures help you to protect yourself and to protect the patients without being stigmatized.
At recruitment, the employer has no right to learn about your health. It is up to you to assess the risk for you and others in the care units that you will be proposed.
To help clarify the risks in a care unit, I suggest you talk with the physician of your CF centre and possibly with the occupational physician.
You are strongly advised to make the recommended vaccinations for people working in the health community.
The French association of cystic fibrosis in the file "www.vaincrelamuco.org/e_upload/pdf/Brochure_vie_pro_nov_2007.pdf" says about the nursing profession, writes: "Attention to conditions of employment: avoid some units like "pulmonology, pediatrics ...And working in private often requires high availability"
I have not found a list of non-recommended care units for a nurse who has cystic fibrosis
Care units with risk:
Those cited by the association "pediatric, pulmonology" and others could be added: otolaryngologist care units, intensive care units, which are potential reservoirs of bacteria including multi-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The influence of bacterial infection on the health status in cystic fibrosis has been clearly established, some of these bacteria are difficult to eradicate with some deleterious effects on the lungs.
In oncology and hematology, immunocompromised patients are potentially at high risk of infection. Even wearing masks and gowns, you should avoid these units. You should also avoid surgical units.
There are care units that seem a priori less risky: general medical units, preventive medicine and school health units, geriatry, psychiatry, some rehabilitation care units, endocrinology…
I hope that answers your request and I wish you to find a suitable care unit that will suit you and allow you to keep you fit.

Marythé Kerbrat and Sophie Ravilly

You can read this article in English about the health professions for CF patients : https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk / aboutcf / publications / booklets / Health_Care_Workers_With_CF.pdf

07.12.2011