Nurse Phobias?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Cardiac x3 years, PACU x1 year.

Just wondering, since I have one of my own... what are your phobias as a nurse? I know some people don't like sputum (the deeeeep down thick stuff) and so on, but is there something of which you have a deep down, debilitating fear? I guess it doesnt even have to be related to nursing...

FYI, this crossed my mind because I have a memory of being 6 years old or so and the movie Mask being on the TV (the Cher one, not the Jim Carrey one) and I cried and hid in the closet. Now, maybe that didn't do it, but I honestly have a fear of that kind of deformity. I can't even watch the FX channel because I saw on the channel guide the other day that it was on. And recently, there was a yahoo news picture of a severely deformed boy's face, and I nearly passed out. I haven't been to my 'My Yahoo' page in over a month now. Weird? I dunno, but I get upset just thinking about it at home alone. :o

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Specializes in ER/ICU/Flight.

my phobia....eyeballs. It sounds weird but I think they're gross. I"ve taken care of people who's eyeballs have come out, or been burned by acid, impaled with a screwdriver,etc and that doesn't bother me. But I had to remove a contact lens from someone once and touching their eyeball was awful. I guess just covering it up or placing a Morgan lens is different.

My wife rags on me all the time about my eyeball hangup. She thinks it's ridiculous.

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Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

I don't like ortho at all. I can tolerate the fx that come in but I could not be in the ortho OR. The sound of pounding, sawing, & cracking bones grosses me out. I hate it when I hear people crack their necks, backs or pop their knuckles at work. Gives me shivers just thinking about it. Watched world guiness records last noc and the guy was double jointed and was cracking eggs by bending his fingers back to his wrist. I had to cover my eyes.

Non nursing I'm terrified of spiders. I can't even watch them on TV. I send out blood curddling screams when I see them in house, I always freak my hubby out when I do that.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

I too am not a fan of eyeballs. But what I REALLY hate is when someone coughs in my face. People who can help it and don't make an effort to cover up makes me want to toss my cookies right then an there. I can handle the most horrific blood bath of a code without gagging, even after the fact, but it's the wet, non-productive cough of a CHFer right in the face.

I do point it out to the patient, politely.

I'm also deeply disturbed by patients with stool packed under their fingernails. Give me a maggot infested stage IV any day of the week, and I'll describe it while eating my lunch...

Blee

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Specializes in NICU.

Squishy heads. I tell myself it's just fluid, but I really hate touching them. We get a lot of shunt babies, so I should be used to it, but not yet...;)

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

FEET! I hate feet. It is one of the reasons I'm in pediatrics now. I'm OK touching feet from about brith to 8 years, after that, I will put gloves on if I'm dealing with them. Old diabetic feet give me the heebie jeebies. Though my husband does have nice feet (if such a thing can be said) I have him wear socks to bed because I can't deal with the possibility of his feet touching my legs in the night! Ugh! I really dislike summer or when people walk around in open-toe sandals/flip flops. I don't want to see your nasty feet!

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Specializes in general internal medicine.

My phobia right now is ear wax. we do quite a few ear washes here and i think its just the texture, but when a huge ball of wet hairy wax ugh man i try to do as many as possible so i get over it but so far i have just made it to a slight shudder, ugh there goes one now. hahahaha outside nursing yes spiders are absolutely terrifying, and yes my wife dogs me about constantly. lol

much love

mose-:spam:

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Specializes in NICU.

One more vote for eyeballs. I just hate the eye exams and surguries.

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Specializes in nursery, L and D.

The squishy head thing gives me the shivers. Not actually scared of them, but I can't stand when the plates scrape together, or squishy feel of them. Just gives me that worse than scraping your nails on a chalkboard shiver!

Outside of nursing, my biggest fear is driving, and to some extent riding in a car. Never had a wreck or anything. I have a panic disorder, and usually at least have one panic attack while driving.

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Just wondering, since I have one of my own... what are your phobias as a nurse? I know some people don't like sputum (the deeeeep down thick stuff) and so on, but is there something of which you have a deep down, debilitating fear? I guess it doesnt even have to be related to nursing...

I would agree that i dont like tracheal suctioning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:barf02:

:sofahider

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Specializes in ICU, OR.

I agree with the eyeball thing. I am also abnormally afraid of electricity. If I am the one doing the defibrillation in a code, I look like a ballerina trying to lean as far back from the pt's fingertips and any metal on the bed. I can't help it. The thought of the pt's body touching me and getting a little zap---eek!

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Specializes in Emergency.

... belly buttons-

Can't stand the thought of something/someone touching mine. I could toss just thinking about it. I always have to have an article of clothing over mine and I don't want to see anyone else's either. Of course my kids and husband try to get a finger in every now and then, not quick enough. Do not know why they insist on gambling with vomit.

....don't get me started on belly button rings...:sasq:

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