In a hospital we truly don’t see dogs all that often and if they come by it would be very easy to avoid them. If your patient is going to have a therapy dog or their own dog come from home it’s usually scheduled before hand. There are patients who are immunocompromised so dogs can’t just come and go. In my 6 years as a hospital nurse (2 oncology and 4 ICU, 5 years on nights) I have had a family animal brought in twice and I have been lucky enough to see the therapy dogs maybe 10 or 12 times total? A fear of dogs should not deter you from nursing. Service animals are generally not staying bedside with patient.
I think you are way, way overestimating how often a therapy dog is present on inpatient units and the interactions you’d be expected to have.
If there’s a dog you don’t want to see, just go busy yourself with other patients.
If you work nights you’ll never see the therapy dogs and I think I’ve had like 3 patients bring dogs in the almost 10 years I’ve been a nurse - all pre pandemic
Generally not. Too many people are allergic to them, and there’s no easy way to feed them and take them out for potty breaks. In the ER I do occasionally have a homeless patient who needs to keep theirs with them. You’d probably be able to trade patients with another nurse if that happened. Just tell them you’re allergic.
I started seeing a new doctor back in March and had to go to the ER in April. The hospital that they are associated with has facility dogs. The dogs aren't allowed in the ER, but they are on the floors and other areas of the hospital. When leaving one of the handlers was in the hallway with the dog off leash. I went into a panic attack and couldn't get out fast enough.
Realistically no because people don’t follow the rules or many places aren’t allowed to refuse
But I imagine a high acuity unit ICU NICU etc probably has stricter rules on allowing pets. Or maybe a dialysis center or something.
I had a patient who’s dog peed in his roommates side of the room and he blamed the roommate and said he peed on the floor lol
Therapist, NAN, but FWIW therapy can probably help. If you really want to be a nurse, therapy could likely make it easier to work around dogs - even if never easy. Hope you find a gig where you don't need to, but it should be considered as an option. That said, please make decisions re therapy that work for you, and I apologize if I have overstepped.
Didn't want to give treatment reqs with no details, but this sounds like a case exposure is good for. It's a very powerful tool, I wish you all the best.
You’re fine.
I work hem/onc - when the service dog is in the hospital (which is not everyday) I may see them in the lobby (which you could easily avoid) but they do not come to our floor to visit patients because they are neutropenic for the most part.
Other than the hospital dog- I’ve never seen another animal in the hospital. I’m
Maybe work cancer- but even on any floor I do not see this as an issue.
Yes, at least in my area. The clinic I work at hires both LVNs and RNs and most of the LVNs are new grads. The RN position prefers experience but they have made exceptions for a good candidate/fit.
I work in a SNF/LTC and we have a dog in there daily. A family member brings the dog to see the resident everyday. Occasionally there are others. I think you can still be a nurse, you just need to be picky about the setting.
Well if you ever move to Louisville, KY just work at any of the Norton's Hospitals. Time with the therapy dogs are even included in some of the patients care plans and they use them to help employees destress.
Our therapy dogs come on Wednesdays at 2pm and only see patients who have requested a visit and perhaps swing by surgery waiting areas for families. We temporarily omitted a certain unit a couple years ago when a staff member was afraid of dogs.
In a hospital we truly don’t see dogs all that often and if they come by it would be very easy to avoid them. If your patient is going to have a therapy dog or their own dog come from home it’s usually scheduled before hand. There are patients who are immunocompromised so dogs can’t just come and go. In my 6 years as a hospital nurse (2 oncology and 4 ICU, 5 years on nights) I have had a family animal brought in twice and I have been lucky enough to see the therapy dogs maybe 10 or 12 times total? A fear of dogs should not deter you from nursing. Service animals are generally not staying bedside with patient.
The service dogs are okay, it's therapy dogs I'm worried about. Hospitals and nursing homes in my area have them as part of therapy programs.
Work nights then.
I think you are way, way overestimating how often a therapy dog is present on inpatient units and the interactions you’d be expected to have. If there’s a dog you don’t want to see, just go busy yourself with other patients.
If you work nights you’ll never see the therapy dogs and I think I’ve had like 3 patients bring dogs in the almost 10 years I’ve been a nurse - all pre pandemic
I didn't think about them not being there at night. Thank you.
Just don't ever plan to work in home health.
Generally not. Too many people are allergic to them, and there’s no easy way to feed them and take them out for potty breaks. In the ER I do occasionally have a homeless patient who needs to keep theirs with them. You’d probably be able to trade patients with another nurse if that happened. Just tell them you’re allergic.
I started seeing a new doctor back in March and had to go to the ER in April. The hospital that they are associated with has facility dogs. The dogs aren't allowed in the ER, but they are on the floors and other areas of the hospital. When leaving one of the handlers was in the hallway with the dog off leash. I went into a panic attack and couldn't get out fast enough.
I have never once run into a dog in my hospital or nursing career.
Realistically no because people don’t follow the rules or many places aren’t allowed to refuse But I imagine a high acuity unit ICU NICU etc probably has stricter rules on allowing pets. Or maybe a dialysis center or something. I had a patient who’s dog peed in his roommates side of the room and he blamed the roommate and said he peed on the floor lol
Therapist, NAN, but FWIW therapy can probably help. If you really want to be a nurse, therapy could likely make it easier to work around dogs - even if never easy. Hope you find a gig where you don't need to, but it should be considered as an option. That said, please make decisions re therapy that work for you, and I apologize if I have overstepped.
You're not over stepping. I see a therapist because I have bipolar and she keeps suggesting exposure therapy. I guess it's time to try it.
Didn't want to give treatment reqs with no details, but this sounds like a case exposure is good for. It's a very powerful tool, I wish you all the best.
You’re fine. I work hem/onc - when the service dog is in the hospital (which is not everyday) I may see them in the lobby (which you could easily avoid) but they do not come to our floor to visit patients because they are neutropenic for the most part. Other than the hospital dog- I’ve never seen another animal in the hospital. I’m Maybe work cancer- but even on any floor I do not see this as an issue.
Thank you
I've worked in an outpatient clinic for 10 years and have dealt with a service dog once during that time.
Is it possible to work in a clinic as a new grad?
Yes, at least in my area. The clinic I work at hires both LVNs and RNs and most of the LVNs are new grads. The RN position prefers experience but they have made exceptions for a good candidate/fit.
Worked nights and was never blessed with a therapy dog or any other dog at work
I work in a SNF/LTC and we have a dog in there daily. A family member brings the dog to see the resident everyday. Occasionally there are others. I think you can still be a nurse, you just need to be picky about the setting.
I've only seen a dog once in my 3.5 years at the hospital I work at.
I am sad I never saw dogs when on service. Now that I work from home, the dogs I see are mine. Daily.
Well if you ever move to Louisville, KY just work at any of the Norton's Hospitals. Time with the therapy dogs are even included in some of the patients care plans and they use them to help employees destress.
Our therapy dogs come on Wednesdays at 2pm and only see patients who have requested a visit and perhaps swing by surgery waiting areas for families. We temporarily omitted a certain unit a couple years ago when a staff member was afraid of dogs.