Do nurses have to clean up vomit?

rn/writer, RN · Mar 5, 2012

As someone else said, forget the dainty little curved emesis basins. They are the one place a serious vomiter won't hit. Instead, use a large, round bath basin if there's time to grab one. Otherwise, a trash can come in handy. When using a basin, line the bottom with 3-4 brown paper towels or a washcloth. This prevents splashing, and you can just peel it all out when the fun is done.

With projectile puke, however, all bets are off.

You'd be amazed at what you can get used to.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 5, 2012

Speaking of alcohol wipes....if you want to control the patient's vomiting, try putting one of these little guys over his/her nose. I learned that trick when I worked OB, and have used it successfully for the most part ever since. I don't know why it works, but it has for about 75% of the people I've tried it with. :idea:

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2012

(very pretty, vivalasviejas)

MadpeysRN · Mar 5, 2012

lol, that and everything else that comes out of the human body! :yeah:

hgrimmett · Mar 5, 2012

You clean up EVERY body fluid at some time or another. Vomit is nothing compared to the smell of c. diff.

rn/writer, RN · Mar 5, 2012

Speaking of alcohol wipes....if you want to control the patient's vomiting, try putting one of these little guys over his/her nose. I learned that trick when I worked OB, and have used it successfully for the most part ever since. I don't know why it works, but it has for about 75% of the people I've tried it with.

What do you mean, "over" the nose? Like resting on top of it? I've never heard this before. I'll have to give it a try with some of my c-section patients who are a little bit queasy but don't want to take anything for it "just yet."

Thanks for the tip. :up:

Do-over, ASN, RN · Mar 5, 2012

I breathe through my mouth.

Unhelpfully, I once heard one of my colleagues state that she does NOT breathe through her mouth at these times as she would rather smell s*&% than taste it...

I no longer purposefully breathe through my mouth when the stink is on...

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 6, 2012

What do you mean, "over" the nose? Like resting on top of it? I've never heard this before. I'll have to give it a try with some of my c-section patients who are a little bit queasy but don't want to take anything for it "just yet."
Thanks for the tip.

Yep, just unwrap that sucker and fold it over the bridge of the patient's nose. I have NO idea why this works more often than not, but I've used it on patients from 18 to 80+ and the relief is amazing.

FLboundBSN · Mar 6, 2012

Are you allowed to carry a disposable mask type thing to cover your mouth and nose in your pocket sprayed with your favorite scent and put it on when needed so you dont smell the awful odors?

commonsense · Mar 7, 2012

From my knowledge, they do have to wipe behinds every now and then and perform injections, but do nurses also have to clean up vomit? Sorry for asking this or if it may seem like a "duh" question because I'm leaning more towards the answer being 'yes', but I want a definite answer. Preferalbe from nurses who have had to do it. How was the experience? How to you deal with it? I think I would vomit myself just from the sight of it, let alone the smell

Hate to break the news sakiohma, but we do clean up vomit. The vomit actually doesn't bother me compared to the diarrhea of an older man with CDiff. However, I guess this goes by a case by case basis.

Merlyn · Mar 8, 2012

Hate to break the news sakiohma, but we do clean up vomit. The vomit actually doesn't bother me compared to the diarrhea of an older man with CDiff. However, I guess this goes by a case by case basis.

Looks like the teachers in the nursing school she went to lied to her. OP you will get use to it. It takes time. Good Luck.

boisern84 · Mar 8, 2012

If it comes out of the body we are assumed to clean it up. I actually had a patient throw up in my bare hands one time. I was a new nurse and didn't know how to protect myself on the job. You will learn survival skills soon enough.