[laurasc]

Okay, so this took the cake today and I tell this story here because I know that as fellow nurses no one will make a mess on their keyboards upon reading this. I thought I was going to die. I walked in the office nurses station this afternoon to find the nurse that works next door hopping around and gagging herself to death. Seems one of her patients handed her a specimine container FULL of a thick whitish substance floating in a clear not to thick fluid. Her boss wanted her to divide the it between two bottles. The poor nurse was seconds from losing her lunch so I took pity on her and volunteered to do it. (Yeah...I know....what was I thinking!!! )

I figured it I didn't think too much about it I would be fine. Carefully I poured the white goo into another bottle and the whole flippin' thing flopped in one big mass into the other bottle! I felt my stomach roll but with monumental effort I pushed the thought away and rethought my strategy. I carefully poured the mass into the other bottle and tried to get it divided into both botlles. Unfortunately all I succeeded in doing was causing that thick mass to drape over the two bottles. Meanwhile, the other nurse was standing on the other side of the wall asking me if I was done yet.

"uh, not really." said I. "Can I have a tongue depressor?" That sent the other nurse into anoher set of gagging fits. I understood really because by that point I was gritting my teeth so hard my jaw hurt. I had no choice but to cut the mass in half. That's when the full realization of what I was doing hit me like a ton of bricks and I found myself in the grip of eye-watering, uvula wrenching dry heaves that threatened to upchuck my lunch of spinach tortalini and mushroom sauce. (charming!)

What was it? Sputum. Thick, rubber-like and at least as large as a golf ball. (or as my dearest hubby said after I told him the story "oyster!" Egad! That's making my stomach lurch! )

And it wasn't even my patient!

Man! I love nursing!

Laura

[Caveman]

lol...lol...lol...lol

[moonchild20002000]

I'm laughing so hard I thought I had aspirated my tea!

I once had a patient bring me one of those in a zip lock sandwich bag.

Oh the things we do in a day.........

[cheerfuldoer]

[Nurse Ratched]

Oh my, Laura .

You're right - your fellow nurses understand and stand in solidarity with you as only those who have had to scoop up similar-consistancied poo specimens can.

And only a nurse can read this and have as a primary thought, "Gee, spinach tortellini and mushroom sauce - that sounds like a great idea for dinner tomorrow! "

Hang in there!

[BelindaLPN]

Ok, I am seriously starting to worry about myself. Read the whole post while eating and didn't even flinch.........

[itsme]

Heck, at least it wasnt green!!!!

[gwenith]

Divide it!! HeckNo Doc! If I open that bottle it might escapes and ravage New York!!!

[CCL"Babe"]

Now you know why I can't eat oysters, clams or mussels.

[jnette]

Originally posted by Nurse Ratched
Oh my, Laura .

And only a nurse can read this and have as a primary thought, "Gee, spinach tortellini and mushroom sauce - that sounds like a great idea for dinner tomorrow! "

So TRUE, Ratched !!! those were EXACTLY my thoughts..."hmmmmm, that sure sounds good.. wonder where I could get that around here..?"

And yes, Belinda, all the while munching on a packet of Ritz Crackers...

So Laura.. have you fully recovered ?