Kureha
First off the way your old psychologist chose to expose you was probably not the best way to go about it. You have to start off with baby steps and work your way through it. Did that experience make it harder for you to want to try again?

So your concern with germs is that you don't want to be infected or infect others? I can understand that.

I imagine is really stressful to live with that anxiety all the time. I know when I went through my issue it was horrible. To the point that I got so sick of it that I started talking baby steps on my own. I would leave my house with my siblings (to go to the public pool), only to get halfway down the street to have to turn around and go back home.

I kept telling myself that I was so sick of the anxiety ruling my life, each time I was able to get a little further down the road untill I finally made it, I was nervous for awhile, but I realized I could make it and most importantly that nothing was going to happen to me. I started to do this in many areas until I gained confidence in knowing that the very things I feared were not going to happen.
I think gradual exposure is best, its work, but it can be done. You need to do it with someone safe, someone who understands you. Most importantly....deep down you need to WANT to do it for you.

I wouldn't give up on trying, I would just recommend taking a different approach. Some germs are actually very good and healthy for you

About nursing, actually, most of the time I don't wear gloves, for instance as soon as I give a shot I take and throw the needle away and the gloves, wash my hands, then continue to do what I have to do with the patient without gloves.

Hangingon