I just can't...

Specialties School

Published

...handle loose/pulling teeth!! It is a spine tingling, goose-bump inducing hard limit for me! I mean, once they're out, I'm good. Its just the sight of the wiggling tooth and the act of pulling it out that just makes me squeamish, man-oh-man!! I'm soooooo thankful for my admin assistant who is willing to handle this ever prevalent occurrence in the school setting! But that makes me curious....

....what's your hard limit? Do you have something that, if you can, you pass on to someone else?

AdobeRN

1,294 Posts

I am the same with teeth, I also have a hard time with vomit. Teachers will laugh at me if they walk by my office when dealing with a puker - I have a mask on or have pulled my shirt up over my nose/mouth. I couldn't even handle my own kids vomit when they were little - my husband had to do it.

Eleven011

1,250 Posts

Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I don't pull teeth, but it isn't that I don't like. Ever since I heard the "tooth fairy" story of the school nurse who got in trouble, I don't do it anymore. I can't think of anything that I can't handle. Puke, snot, pus....no big deal. Guess my kids have desensitized me!

WineRN

1,109 Posts

Specializes in NCSN.
I don't pull teeth, but it isn't that I don't like. Ever since I heard the "tooth fairy" story of the school nurse who got in trouble, I don't do it anymore.

Same. But sometimes I will admit that I'm tempted when it's just barely hanging on and the little one refuses to try on their own.

I have two things I wish I could pass to someone else: Eye injures and Insect killing. I had a student with a broken blood vessel in his eye from an impact injury and my eyes wouldn't stop tearing up (Just thinking about it now makes my eyes water!)

And every time there is a bug in my room, and I need to be the adult to save both me and the little ones from the scary creepy crawly, I wish for a brave assistant. lol

And every time there is a bug in my room, and I need to be the adult to save both me and the little ones from the scary creepy crawly, I wish for a brave assistant. lol

Hahaha yes! An "adultier" adult!! I can relate to that one too!

I don't pull teeth, but it isn't that I don't like. Ever since I heard the "tooth fairy" story of the school nurse who got in trouble, I don't do it anymore. I can't think of anything that I can't handle. Puke, snot, pus....no big deal. Guess my kids have desensitized me!

Oh gosh. I forgot about that story! I can't believe that even happened. But I am glad that my admin assistant doesn't pull them either. She will sit there with the kids and encourage them to get them out on their own. Nothing else bothers me though! Wounds, vomit, broken bones, snot/phlegm, whatevs! Just don't bring those loose teeth to me!!

OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I don't mind teeth but I will gag if I get a nose full of funky, undigested food, unbrushed teeth, bad breath. One smell and I hold my breath but if I can't hold it long enough and take a second inhalation, I'm losing it.

Also dog poop...give me any variation of human poop, no big deal, but dog poop:no:

grammy1

420 Posts

I can not handle vomit. Like AdobeRN, I couldn't handle it with my own kids (or dogs, or cats) either. I had poop duty, hubby had puke duty.

What is the Tooth Fairy story that I missed??

Have Nurse, ADN, RN

3 Articles; 719 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.
Same. But sometimes I will admit that I'm tempted when it's just barely hanging on and the little one refuses to try on their own.

I have two things I wish I could pass to someone else: Eye injures and Insect killing. I had a student with a broken blood vessel in his eye from an impact injury and my eyes wouldn't stop tearing up (Just thinking about it now makes my eyes water!)

And every time there is a bug in my room, and I need to be the adult to save both me and the little ones from the scary creepy crawly, I wish for a brave assistant. lol

I think the man should kill the bug. LOL!!!!

OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I think the man should kill the bug. LOL!!!!

"Step aside Little Lady...this is a man's job!"

Have Nurse, ADN, RN

3 Articles; 719 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.
I don't mind teeth but I will gag if I get a nose full of funky, undigested food, unbrushed teeth, bad breath. One smell and I hold my breath but if I can't hold it long enough and take a second inhalation, I'm losing it.

Also dog poop...give me any variation of human poop, no big deal, but dog poop:no:

I hear you. Once, I had a fellow in isolation. He was an elderly gentleman who didn't say much. He had had a stroke but also had MRSA, and he was not given appropriate dental care.

I had had enough of that so I grabbed some suction equipment, tooth paste, and several toothbrushes and coaxed him into allowing me to really clean his teeth. It took about 45 minutes, and he did help.

The docs all dreaded coming in to see him previous because in addition to having to gown etc, they had to deal with his breath and awful mouth.

We had just wrapped up when this young doc came in looking apprehensive. He noticed my patients' clean mouth and fresh breath and stated: "Wow, you do good work!"

I have to admit I was pleased with the results and I think the patient was too, but up until we tackled that project of oral care, it made me sick too. Poor guy.

Have Nurse, ADN, RN

3 Articles; 719 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.
"Step aside Little Lady...this is a man's job!"

I love it!! LOL!

Thank you, Kind Sir!

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