One risk of going to school is getting sick. What do we do when we are sick and don’t want to miss school, especially if there are no make-up days? Should we just take Tylenol and mask up then continue to go to school?

Nurse Practitioner Michael Castañeda graduated from the Del Mar Nursing Program in 2012 and has been a nurse for about 12 years. Castañeda shared some tips on how to prevent the spread of illnesses and stay healthy during the year.

“Hand washing is always a big part of preventing spread,” he said.

“I will stress to people, family, my patients, if you feel that you are vulnerable or might take it to someone that’s vulnerable, I think your best bet is wearing N-95 [mask].” 

What if you are unsure if you are sick? Many people suffer from allergies when the weather changes, so they may pop a Zyrtec and head to class, not realizing they are exposing people to an illness.

Casteñeda stressed that if you’re exhibiting symptoms of COVID, it’s best to stay home.

“If you are symptomatic, no matter what the test says, if you’re having fever, body aches, chills, cough, congestion, and sneezing, I feel that’s the biggest way you can spread things,” Casteñeda said.

“That is, to me, what should keep you out of school. One of the most common things when we discharge someone from the hospital, whether it’s strep throat, COVID, any illness really; we ask that you be improving symptoms and fever-free for at least 24 hours.” 

For students concerned about missing classes due to illness, Del Mar College Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Jonda Halcomb encourages everyone to talk to their professors first.

“They may put in a syllabus that you cannot make up something for a regular absence, but it may be different when somebody is ill, and most faculty will try to work with a student, to try to figure out what they can do to make up the work,” Halcomb said.

“Even though a syllabus may say ‘no makeup days,’ still, contact the faculty, explain the situation.” 

Students shouldn’t feel nervous to talk to their instructor, especially when their education and future is on the line.

“One-on-one interaction is extremely important here,” Halcomb explained.