Will I be able to hack it??

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi Folks!!

I just finished watching "Trauma life in the E.R." on The Learning Channel. I find I'm addicted to this and "Maternity Ward" and "Labor and Delivery." :D My question though is this... Do you get used to the "gore"? I mean it makes me cringe a bit watching gaping gunshot wounds and oozing 3rd degree burns being poked and prodded...I'm not sure how receptive I'll be to being a poker or prodder...let alone even observing this behavior on a one on one basis. Did you find yourselves to be a bit squemish to begin with and finally become used to it? Or did you never really have a problem with it at all? This is the one area that concerns me about my being a good nurse. I can deal with "sick" people but I wonder if I can deal with openly wounded people. Any feedback? Thanks, in advance for your replys.

~Bean

Bean,

It all depends on where you want to work. There is a certain amount of "gore" in most hospital nursing but "acute gore" is usually seen in the ER, Burn Unit, or Critical Care Unit. There is more I'll say "controlled gore" on a Med-Surg floor.

You do get used to it to an extent because you have a job to do and you just do it. Somethings don't bother you at the time but you react after you've done what you are supposed to do. You never know until you try. I don't like gorey movies but I work ER and most things don't bother me. It's all what you're used to.

Hope this helps.

Keep in mind that it is much different dealing with "gore" and body fluids when you are in a caretaking mode, as opposed to an observing mode.

The gore is easy to ignore when you have a life to save and you have countless other more critical things on your mind.

Specializes in ED staff.

YOu get used to seeing gorey things, you get used to smells etc. I can handle most anything, I've had a multitude of different orifices throw something at me. At work I have been, vomited on, bled on, pooped on, peed on etc. The thing that STILL grosses me out is an icky mouth. Little old people in the nursing home who can't clean their own teeth, sent to the ED with 5 days of leftovers on their teeth, makes me gag! Or someone who has been sick and they have that stringy saliva that stretches up and down when they talk..yuck!

Yup, stringy saliva.

Excuse me.......I've gotta go now.

Gurgullll...urhhhuppppp!

Can't stand the mucous! I once had a total train wreck of a patient who had developed a raging sinus infection while on the ventillator. I had to nasally suction her ... at one point I pulled out a lugey the size and color of a tennis ball -- I swear! -- OK, maybe a golf ball. I actually had to sit down with my head between my legs for a while! I literally have occasional nightmares of that incident.

Reminds me of a joke....

A doctor, a nurse, and a respiratory therapist are in hell, standing neck deep in poo. Satan smiles and coughs up a huge wad and spits it at the trio.

The doctor says, "Quick! Get a sample and analyze it!"

The RT jumps up to grab it.

The nurse ducks. ;)

Thanks you guys!!! I'm 99.2% certain I'll be able to handle the "controlled gore" and after reading your responses I'm 86.4% sure I'll get used to the other stuff. My only concerns really are the clinicals...don't you have to experience most of the units as a nursing student? I'm sure I'll be o.k...and it's still a while off (I'm still finishing my pre-requisites) I just like to be prepared! ;) My biggest apprehension in the ER clinical. :o Anyway, Thanks again!!!!:D

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