[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...

[IampattyRN]

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...

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

Your post is just like my friend who after seeing poop on an old naked man quit nursing school after the second month of the first semester.... he had school paid for with a hospital scholarship, a job when he finished..... and he would tell me things like what you just posted.

[Gauge]

My 1st semester of clinicals was at a nursing home this semester as well. I didn't like the whole cleaning up other people's butts, but I just kind of gritted my teeth and went with it. I got lucky and didn't have to change any diapers or anything like that, but I would have to wipe for some after they finished. It isn't fun by any means, but it gets over quick.

[Bx_RN2B]

If you can change a baby diaper and not get sick you can change an adult diaper no problem!

Truly there is no difference they are both poop and they are both stinky. It's a mind thing because we accept that babies cannot control their bowels but it is abnormal for adults to not be able to so we are repulsed by it.

You have to control your mind and not allow yourself to become ill. You're making it out to be bigger than what it is and it's likely that when the moment comes you will maintain your composure for the sake of the patient and do what needs to be done.

Just remind yourself that you are there for the patient and trust me it's more unpleasant for them than it is for you.

[swee2000]

Originally Posted by Falon

Just remind yourself that you are there for the patient and trust me it's more unpleasant for them than it is for you.

So very true.

[nursemike]

Guys, we're getting a lot of First Year in Nursing Posts that might more properly fit in one of the student boards. In this particular instance, a new student might well want to hear from working nurses how they deal with it, but I encourage all students to check the "Students" tab for things like NCLEX concerns, etc. It isn't that students aren't welcome, here, but you may find your concerns already addressed. This forum is intended mainly for the issues faced by working nurses in their first year--and there are lots of them!

[nursemike]

Originally Posted by IampattyRN

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

Your post is just like my friend who after seeing poop on an old naked man quit nursing school after the second month of the first semester.... he had school paid for with a hospital scholarship, a job when he finished..... and he would tell me things like what you just posted.

I have to admit, I have at times been happy that a patient pooped. As in, Yay, I don't have to give an enema, after all! Such instances, however, are the exception, not the rule.

As a nurse, I do a lot of things I don't especially like doing. For example, I used to say I would rather do colostomy care than chart. Then, one night, I actually had a patient with a colostomy (not all that common on a neuro floor, but we do get off-services). And, you know what--it was fairly gross, but it was more fun than charting.

[Roseyposey]

I don't think any nurse would say they like poo. We do, however, get very excited about the fact that a post-op is having one. I have a hard time with it as well; however, I have found the best thing to do is keep on top of it. I work on a general surgical floor, so my life seems to center around it - too much, too little, obstructing, c-diff, blood in it, in the emesis, new colostomy, etc, etc. If I know someone is incontinent, I try to be extra vigilant about hygiene and frequent colostomy emptying. Getting to it right away helps a lot! It also is greatly appreciated by the patient.

[thrashej]

No offense to the OP, but these threads always make me laugh!! I can remember when this really was a concern back in the more naieve days.

What you should be scared about is EVERYTHING ELSE in nursing, lol. The poop doesn't hold a candle to some of the other stuff you have to deal with. In fact, sometimes I'd call the poop the more pleasant, tolerable part!

Anyway, the point is...you'll get over being scared....and fast. The poop really is a non-issue. So don't worry about that! Good Luck!

[prmenrs]

Consider this from the patient's point of view.

All your life, you've been a competent human being. You got potty trained @ the appropriate age, you were a useful, productive adult, raising your own children, holding down a job, contributing to society. Now, here you are, away from your family and friends, maybe you have to be fed by someone, you don't have anything interesting to do, maybe you can't talk, hear or see very well and WORST OF ALL, you can't even control the most basic of bodily functions. You have to wear a diaper, for heaven's sake. You are totally dependent on someone else to clean you after you soil yourself, perhaps even change your clothes/bedding.

Just how humiliating is that??? Granted, some patients are not exactly "with it", and maybe even seem to enjoy "making your day", but for many, this whole business is absolutely mortifiying.

Your job, as a nurse, is to be as empathetic as possible. Reassure the patient, clean them as promptly and gently as you can (sometimes caregivers lose patience, tend to be rough, and even abusive in this poop cleaning process).

There are tricks to decrease the odor--putting Vicks Vapo-rub under your nose for example--discrete spraying (don't over-do that, esp if pt or you have resp issues like COPD and asthma), etc. Bring as many supplies as you can, and if it's a 2 person job, round 'em up. Talk to the pt while you do it, just chit-chat stuff, so that they know you recognize them as a person.

Make it a good thing; it will serve you well. Consider it a "mitzvah" as the Jewish say, a "blessing".