Health Care Careers - CF Adults

[anonymous]

Hello,

I was wondering how many CF adults on this board are currently in school or working in the health care field and what careers would be off limits for someone with CF? My son is interested in becoming a Surgical Technologist and believes he would not be at risk or put patients at risk because he would be gloved and gowned and in a sterile environment. I've been concerned that the work would be too demanding or that he would not be allowed to be in the OR if he had to cough. I don't want to discourage him but would like some input from some other adults with CF and specifically if you or anyone else you know who has CF has been successful in this field.

Thanks for your help.

 

[luke]

Several of us are in healthcare(I am a RRT) and do fine. I think a surgery tech would be a great choice for a occupation. You get to have patient interaction without the "infected patient" exposure you would get in nursing or respiratory. I don't think coughing would be a problem but surgeons are a rare breed I wouldn't put it past them to go off on a coughing employee on a bad day.


luke

 

[anonymous]

I agree with Luke, I am in the nursing field and I am currently in school for my RN. I think being an OR tech is a safe environment for him as well as the patient. When I did my OR rotation the hardest part for me was standing still.... my legs ached so bad just from being still for so long. Most of my family, friends and my current boss would really like me to consider going to the OR because it would be so much safer for me.. If only I were interested in the OR....

I also agree that Surgeons are a rare breed, so your son would have to decide how he would handle it when someone comments to him. Also if he got in a coughing fit, he can not take his mask off under any circumstances... he would have to leave the OR to do it.

I remember having a coughing fit while in the OR and feeling like I needed to take my mask off to catch my breath and everyone looked at me like they would have killed me if I did.

I wouldn't discourage your son from doing anything that his heart is set on. There are always ways to work things out and from what I understand an OR tech is on the job training for the most part with a few weeks of schooling ( I think) so if it didn't work out.. it is not a huge loss,


Jennifer 32 with CF

 

[anonymous]

I appreciate your input. It does help to know what others in the field would say. I would like to hear from anyone else who may have knowledge about this type of work (surgical technology) and how it would affect a person with CF. We have never discouraged our son from following his dreams and do not plan to start now.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[anonymous]

Another thing I've thought of is whether wearing a surgical mask would affect his ability to take in all the oxygen he needs. I think I remember him saying that someone mentioned in one of his interviews before starting classes that sometimes this can be a problem. Does anyone have an opinion or input on this?

 

[anonymous]

When I wore a mask when I was doing my OR rotation, and when I need to wear a mask for a patient that I have that is on Resp. precautions, I do feel a little smoothered. In the OR it was a little easier because it was so COLD in there so I didn't feel as smoothered. My biggest problem was that I was slightly sick at the time, so I had to cough and wanted to remove my mask but was not able to. I mean it has to remain so sterile in there ppls inside of their bodies are exposed... (Not a great place to be coughing)

It also depends on the type of mask you use, I believe in the OR they just are using a reg. shield mask which is much easier to breath out of then a mask such as a "duck bill" mask also known as an N9 mask which is for ppl who have resp. precaution needs.

Either way, you are fully able to get all your oxegen through the mask, though it may be a little more labored. What I would do is go to a medical supply store and buy a mask or two (I would have him get the N9 type because they may want him to wear that kind if he is culturing stuff, just to ensure the patients saftey and so to be certain he won't put another patient at risk) and have him try to keep it on for the day to see how he feels...

Best of luck with your son,

Jennifer
32 w/ CF and Addison's and ONLY 9 months to go till I am an RN wahoooooooooo...(God Willing).

 

[anonymous]

Jennifer,

Thanks so much for your input. I will pass all of this on to my son. I don't know if he ever reads this forum or not, but I think he might. I always learn so much from the people here and I think it helps me understand better what my son, and other young adults with CF, are going though.