[Dottie78]

I'm not an RN yet, but my advice to the OP would be to just hold your breath and bear it! Of course, you'll always have to wear gloves, so don't worry about it getting on your hands. To be honest, I didn't always want to be a nurse, and the poop issue was one of the reasons, but once you become a mother, the fear of poop all goes out the window! After having two children and having to clean up plenty of poop, pee, and vomit, it's not a big deal, and the thought of having to clean an adult's poop or other bodily fluids doesn't bother me at all anymore.

BTW, those were good tricks for covering up the smell, like the Vicks. I didn't know about that. I also agree that talking to the patient, making them feel like a person is a good idea. It also would probably get your mind off the smell too.

Good luck!

[TheCommuter]

I'd frankly much rather grapple with poop and fecal matter, than have to deal with abusive family members, snippy doctors, insensitive managers, overly demanding patients, understaffing, charting for 15 residents, complaints, and poor working conditions. If poopy diapers were all I had to worry about during a typical shift, I'd surely have a whole lot less stress at my place of employment.

Seriously, poop will be the least of your concerns when you become a nurse. Consider it a good day when all you had to do was empty a couple of poop-filled bedpans, as opposed to responding to 3 unsuccessful full codes where the patients were dead, ghastly, and full of cracked ribs.

[nursingstudent424]

I would like to thank all of you for your quick response. I appreciate the advice...I still can't wait to become a nurse and I know I'll be a damn good one. I would never let poop get in the way of my dreams even though it was a concern of mine because i don't know how I'll react to it...but my priority will always be to make sure the patient is comfortable. I'm sure i'll be ok and I guess I'll get used to it. By the way the vapor rub trick is something I will give a try if poop cleaning gets to be a problem

[nursemike]

This is such a universal concern among new nurses, and especially prospective nurses, that I'm making it a "sticky." So now we have a more-or-less permanent place discuss concerns about poop, puke, and other bodily fluids (whether or not they are sticky) and hopefully share some tips for dealing with them. Ah, yes--the glamorous life of nurses!

By the way, I'd be very cautious with the Vicks under the nose, because you run a risk of aspirating the salve. A similar measure that has worked for me is a Hall's cough drop. Of course, you have to be careful not to gag and aspirate it, too.

Some of the experienced aides I work with use shaving cream as a cleanser for messy BMs. Smells nice, gentle on the skin, and it works.

[Aimee03]

OK so look, I was the same way except I hated smells, blood, poop, pee, vomit, or anything else. I made it through nursing school and have been a rn for 6 months. I just thought about it as something I have to do to get through. It is not fun, but it is do-able. I made it through without throwing up at all. If I can do it, just about anybody can. Good Luck

[nurse2b2010]

Originally Posted by nursingstudent424

I'm starting my nursing program on Jan.25th, and i'm really, really excited. Ever since I can remember I've always dreamed about being a nurse. I'm a medical assitant at a cardiologist office and I love working hands on and I love my patients to the point that I can't wait until I become a RN and work at a hospital. During orientation we were told that our first practice cite will be at a nursing home . One thing I'm actually not looking forward to doing is looking at poop!!! I could deal with blood, I can deal with pee, but i'm actually scared of my reaction to looking at poop and changing patients, I'm scared I might
I've changed a childs diaper before and i've had no problem...but I have never changed a adults diaper nor smelled or been up close and personal to it. I'm so afraid of how i'm going to react to it...does anyone ever felt this way? Does anyone have some advice or suggestions??? Is it true that it's just like changing a child. I'm scared of the smell and how i would react to it. HELP!!!! i feel recidiculous...

I suppose we pre-nursing or nursing students, we all have a fear of some sort. I am sure you will do fine. Pardon the expression, but grin and bear it. You'll get through it. . I suppose being a mother of 2 and seeing some other pretty gross stuff, it wouldn't be that scary to me. But, we'll see how I react as well!

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

Originally Posted by IampattyRN

poop is part of nursing, if you don't like it then you shouldn't be a nurse.

I don't like poop, and I'm a very good nurse.

Try bringing some Vick's vaporrub and dab a tiny bit on your top lip when you have to change someone with poop. It'll help.

My trick was always to take a deep breath outside the room, change the patient as fast as possible, and then take my next deep breath outside the room. I got really good at holding my breath.

Also, I would try to put myself in that person's bed. There you are, you've pooped yourself, and there's a new student making the most horrible faces at you. I'd feel pretty bad. I'd want to bless the person who could clean me up and manage to keep smiling and making small talk with me to lessen the personal embarrassment.

After awhile, you see the person under all the poop.

[nurse2b2010]

Originally Posted by nursingstudent424

I would like to thank all of you for your quick response. I appreciate the advice...I still can't wait to become a nurse and I know I'll be a damn good one. I would never let poop get in the way of my dreams even though it was a concern of mine because i don't know how I'll react to it...but my priority will always be to make sure the patient is comfortable. I'm sure i'll be ok and I guess I'll get used to it. By the way the vapor rub trick is something I will give a try if poop cleaning gets to be a problem

Of course you'll make a good nurse if you want it that badly! I used to always tell my children (and I can still see them rolling their eyes! ha), if you want something bad enough, you'll work had for it and achieve it! Now, they are telling me that since I have decided to return to school to become a nurse! Full Circle I suppose!! Good luck with everything!

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

Originally Posted by Dottie78

Of course, you'll always have to wear gloves, so don't worry about it getting on your hands.
Good luck!

Not to gross anyone out or anything, but be thankful for gloves.

Back in the Dark Ages when I started (before Universal Precautions) we were not allowed to wear gloves; it was considered offensive to the patient if we didn't actually have skin to skin contact.

[jewelsg627]

It's funny to see this thread b/c I just finished my first semester which was on a subacute floor (basically, geriatric hip fx's all day, every day). About 6 weeks in was my first pt that I had to help with the commode. When she was done, I went to rinse it out and I thought I was going to THROW UP. The smell that came out of that little old lady was pure evil. Nothing I had ever smelled before or wish to smell again. Still gives me the chills. In fact, now I can't even smell my own "stuff" without wanting to puke.

Vick's is gonna make a ton of $$ off me....