Is there anything you still can't do?

Puke. Chunky puke. But I get through it.

I still have trouble with oral care. I just can't stand teeth and mouths. I have performed a full range of trach care for different patients and that doesn't bother me at all, but I don't like having to clean other people's teeth. I think it's because I have this great fear that someone will gag or throw up on me. It hasn't happened yet, but the thought makes me nervous.

Sputum and phlegm are repulsive to me. Therefore, my stomach churns when I'm doing trach care, suctioning, or emptying a suction canister that is full of yellowish sputum, saliva, and boogers.

the only thing that gets to me is actually seeing people puke. i can clean it up all day but seeing it and hearing it hit the floor just bleeeech...but what do i know....im a baby nurse still

I still can't leap over tall buildings in a single bound- but I'm working on it.

I'm cool with puke, poop, snot, phlegm...all that gross stuff...drain a puss filled abcess in front of me and I have to leave the room

Okay, like other people I have seen a lot of things. I can handle complex fractures, I can handle severe trauma: GSW, stabbings, decapitations....But if you come in with a teeny, tiny dislocated pinkie finger....You would be picking me up off the floor. I get those tiny black "dots" floating around my field of vision then its "GOOD NIGHT, IRENE"!! I just can not handle dislocated...anything....I am getting queasy just writing about it.....
I used to work in a large Oncology critical care unit and one day I walked into a patient's room....She had just had chemo and was not feeling too good (very nauseous), she had a bucket in her lap and seated next to her was the Nurse....with a bucket in her lap, as well. Every time the patient vomited, the Nurse would rub her back, then she (the RN) would vomit and the patient would rub her back....This went on for a few moments...Makes me smile when I think of that picture...
Great thread!
athena

Trach care, I will beg borrow, take what ever else another nurse has to do , if they will please just do the trach care for me. It is not that I do not know how, it simply grosses me out.

I will watch the grossest abscess drain with glee, Airforce, if you will deal with any loogies my patient hocks up.