Acceptable Careers in Health Care field for CF patients

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anonymous

New member
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.
 
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anonymous

New member
When my son had surgery there was a respiration therapist who had cf. He seemed to like his job. He could not work with anyone who had cf.
 
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anonymous

New member
My boyfriend is a 25 yo with CF who works as a pharmacist. He had a liver transplant when he was 10 years old & his lungs are doing relatively well (FEV ~70%). The last year of pharmacy school was difficult because you do "rotations" - almost all of which are in a hospital inpatient setting. After these rotations, he grew Pseudomonas in his lungs that was panresistant - resistant to all antibiotics tested. It could be coincidence or it could be that he picked it up in the hospital on rotations. A year later - I don't think his most recent cultures have grown this bad of a strain (still growing Pseudomonas - but he always had Pseudomonas colonizing, even before pharmacy school)...

I DON'T recommend working in CERTAIN fields of health care, I believe it to be too risky. Other areas are okay. Right now my boyfriends works as a pharmacist at a retail/chain store, & not in a hospital with patients who are constantly sick with pneumonia & other infections. I believe as long as he is not around other infectious people, especially pneumonia, your son will be okay. I am unsure about being a surgical technologist. He might want to speak with a physician with a specialty in infectious disease or a surgeon. It may be risky for other people <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> who have open wounds & already are at an increased risk of infection secondary to surgery...

It is a difficult & tough decision. Good luck.
 
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anonymous

New member
Thanks so much for your help and input. I think the real test for him will come when he begins clinicals this fall. I would still like to hear from someone with CF who may already be working in this field or knows someone who is, but I'm sure there are very few who would try it.
 
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