[missmercy]

The bad news is, now I've gotten over suctioning and moved on to total nausea over cleaning food filled dentures........ [/quote]
Gotta wonder -- does God give us things we're grossed about to keep us humble? Or what! I know what you mean -- seems like I just get myself over one hurdle -- and promptly find a new on!! Guess it just goes to show that we're human!!

[InTheBlood]

This is an interesting topic. You know I conducted a little informal poll in my unit, and I'm not sure of the reliability. It seems that females GENERALLY dislike sputum/suctioning/etc. more than males and that males GENERALLY dislike cleaning s..t more than females do. Just an interesting tidbit from within my unit. Nothing really bothers me anymore. I'm famous for saying, "I would wipe someone's *** with one hand while eating a sandwich with the other".

[nurseygrrl]

I am not a fan of mucous either. Mucous and vomit I try to avoid at all costs. If I have to deal with either, I wear a mask...it seems that helps me somehow, but I've never gotten over the 'ick' feeling when it comes to those two things.

[LadyBugLass]

What upsets me most is not just the lung butter, but that patients just CANNOT WAIT to show you their sputum. They get all worked up and stuff, like they want to show you that they have a winning lottery ticket in the emesis basin. I know you have to see if it's "infected" and get specimens and such, but the excitement level kinda freaks me out, like I am supposed to hand out stickers or something. Plain spit and clear mucous don't really upset me, but the infected gunk just SMELLS...ugh.

Other major smell gross outs?

1. Yeast infection smells
2. Ensure smell that clings to your hair and clothes (sweet and cloying)
3. Old, stale urine smell (like a men's room urinal)
4. Cigarette smoke on someone who does not bathe or do laundry

The number one, most revolting thing that I hate about healthcare?

Broken bones.

I used to be a paramedic, no less, AND my kid broke her arm once, AND my husband's knees have sent a surgeons kid to college. Now, I can DEAL with it...BUT I DON'T LIKE IT!!!!

Just typing the word CREPITUS makes my skin crawl.

[RN4NICU]

Originally Posted by InTheBlood

This is an interesting topic. You know I conducted a little informal poll in my unit, and I'm not sure of the reliability. It seems that females GENERALLY dislike sputum/suctioning/etc. more than males and that males GENERALLY dislike cleaning s..t more than females do. Just an interesting tidbit from within my unit. Nothing really bothers me anymore. I'm famous for saying, "I would wipe someone's *** with one hand while eating a sandwich with the other".

I guess I'm the oddball then LOL - boogers, snot, sputum, ET suction...bring it on. I'll suction your patient if you'll clean up mine. I can suction and drink a milkshake at the same time. Thank God there is a place in nursing for all of us.

[RN4NICU]

Originally Posted by LadyBugLass

What upsets me most is not just the lung butter, but that patients just CANNOT WAIT to show you their sputum. They get all worked up and stuff, like they want to show you that they have a winning lottery ticket in the emesis basin. I know you have to see if it's "infected" and get specimens and such, but the excitement level kinda freaks me out, like I am supposed to hand out stickers or something. Plain spit and clear mucous don't really upset me, but the infected gunk just SMELLS...ugh.

Other major smell gross outs?

1. Yeast infection smells
2. Ensure smell that clings to your hair and clothes (sweet and cloying)
3. Old, stale urine smell (like a men's room urinal)
4. Cigarette smoke on someone who does not bathe or do laundry

The number one, most revolting thing that I hate about healthcare?

Broken bones.

I used to be a paramedic, no less, AND my kid broke her arm once, AND my husband's knees have sent a surgeons kid to college. Now, I can DEAL with it...BUT I DON'T LIKE IT!!!!

Just typing the word CREPITUS makes my skin crawl.

I've had enough ortho problems myself that bones and joints don't bother me. I used to order takeout from the OR while we were wrapping up a total joint replacement. First time I felt crepitus, I thought it was cool, LOL.

The most revolting thing about healthcare for me is odors. I am very sensitive to them (hair trigger gag reflex) and I could wear a mask soaked in peppermint oil - they would still bother me.

[mattsmom81]

What gets me is the patients who deliberately wait til you are within the line of fire and let you have it...from flatus to sputum/vomit/blood, etc you name it.

What is even WORSE is healthcare workers who withold info about infections like Hep B,C, 'suspected' TB and HIV so coworkers can't use that little extra bit of caution when the body fluids start flying through the air.

And please...don't anybody give me the line about 'we are supposed to treat everybody like they're infectious blah blah'. We do NOT routinely go into every room fully garbed for infectious flying-through-the-air body fluids, it isn't practical, nor do we have the time and resources...we are selective. We all deserve the opportunity to make an informed decision about how much PPE we use. It's to the point out there where I suspect passive aggression is behind withholding of such vital information from other healthcare workers....unforgiveable IMO and if I had my way it would be prosecutable. This from someone who was exposed in this way...ordered by a charge nurse to go and troubleshoot a patient without being informed of what he already KNEW and to be careful. I walked right into it, assuming another RN woud NOT send me in unprotected.. Boy was I stupid, eh?. (no I no longer work there and yes this is fully documented in case I convert)

[earle58]

Originally Posted by mattsmom81

What gets me is the patients who deliberately wait til you are within the line of fire and let you have it...from flatus to sputum/vomit/blood, etc you name it.
(

[rnmi2004]

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one! I'm a private duty nurse right now for a woman with severe congenital mental problems, and she has a suction machine in her room due to dysphagia. I haven't had to use it yet but I'm sure I will soon because she's been coughing a lot more lately. I'll let you know how I do! It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to look at it, but I'm pretty sure blindly jabbing the yankauer around in her mouth wouldn't be a very good idea.

[LadyBugLass]

Another funky smell? If you have worked in ER or trauma surgery, you'll know this one...

Fresh blood from a drunk driving accident.

It has a strong metallic scent mixed with the sweet alcohol odor. Even more peculiar is that mixed with the smell of BLEACH, because that is what we used to clean off the spineboards and KED's on the ambulance about 10-12 years ago. I would recognize that horrid stench in my deepest sleep!