I'm a new nurse. Just got my license in october so I'm still at my first job(nursing home).. I am staying sick though. I've had a horrible cough/cold 3 times since starting work. How do you nurses keep from getting sick like this? I started working October 18. We've had a huge number of residents being out to the hospital and with the flu. I'm constantly washing my hands and using hand sanitizer and I wear gloves anytime I have to touch a patient.