5 Tips to Help Healthcare Professionals Stay Healthy at Work


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In most roles in the medical field, at some point you will find yourself in close proximity to a patient who is feeling under the weather, and who may even be contagious. Throughout the year, and especially during cold and flu season, it’s important to keep these helpful tips in mind to stay healthy at work.

1. One of the best things you can do to stay healthy at work is to wash your hands often and wash them well. Viruses that you pick up on your hands are often even more infectious than those that are airborne from a patient’s sneeze or cough. It is also a good idea to keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer at your desk or in the pocket of your scrubs, and to keep your hands away from your face.

2. Get plenty of sleep. By getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night, your body will be well rested and can launch a strong response to fight off an invading virus before you get sick.

3. Take your vitamins. Make sure you are getting the recommend daily amount of vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin D – all help support the immune system.

4. Watch what you eat. Limit the amount of junk food you eat and instead, stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables and make sure to drink plenty of water.

5. Exercise regularly. Every time you exercise, you get a boost of immune-fighting cells!

Whether you’re a Medical Assistant tending to patients in a busy clinic or a Pharmacy Tech working at a high-traffic pick-up counter, chances are you are busy from the beginning of each shift to the end. Wearing yourself too thin can lead to a weakened immune system, making you more susceptible to various viruses. Remember that to take care of others, you first need to take care of yourself!


Information in this blog post is accurate as of August 7, 2012.