I am looking for a little entertainment Have any of you had to overcome any phobias to become a nurse?
I am starting the nursing program in January (finally!) and it is hitting me that I am within months of dealing with a...ummm...."minor" case of emetophobia. Okay its not minor, its pretty hard-core. There's the smell, sight, sound, the anticipation that its going to happen. UGH! I take off like a bat out of heck when confronted with it. It goes back to about 3--on a road trip an older cousin covered me in vomit head to toe and we had to pull over and strip me naked on the side of the road. Spent the next few hours naked in the car smelling like a regurgitated Lunchable. Not been a fan ever since.
I know I can get over it because:
1) I am stubborn, and this phobia annoys me--I can't imagine living the rest of my life like this!
2) I have a 3 year old who manages to vomit frequently and it doesnt bother me one bit. Some mothering instinct takes over and I deal with it no problem. On some level I can be okay with it. I just need to find that level when dealing with someone other than my flesh and blood.
My phobia is boogers. At first, it was vomit. In fact, the first pt I had that vomited, I had to run to the bathroom and I wretched a bit myself. Time and experience helped me get over that, now it doesn't bother me.
Now, it is still boogers. Especially the ones that are attached to the nasal cannula when you remove it from the pt. The last time I had to deal with it, I started gagging and discreetly called to CNA to offer her $5 to come help me with it.... I still can't do it. And I have no idea how to get over this.
Yeah, boogers are bummers....I hated the ones harked out of trachs.... I'd pull the bed away from the wall, lock it, and suction from behind the HOB...no chance of getting hit from soggy shrapnel. The wall..????? That was another story Bleechhhhh. :icon_roll:chair:
It's just protein and water... like cow poop is grass and water (still don't want it on my shoes, but makes it sound less like toxic waste)-- OK, so there are bacteria....
We only had the small scorpions in FL. I was amazed the first time I dealt with one - they could really take a whacking with a broomstick! I couldn't kill the thing!
Some cultures fry and eat them.....remove stinger first. They're supposed to be a tasty, crunchy treat....think I'll stick with baby carrots
Yeah, boogers are bummers....I hated the ones harked out of trachs.... I'd pull the bed away from the wall, lock it, and suction from behind the HOB...no chance of getting hit from soggy shrapnel. The wall..????? That was another story Bleechhhhh. :icon_roll:chair:
It's just protein and water... like cow poop is grass and water (still don't want it on my shoes, but makes it sound less like toxic waste)-- OK, so there are bacteria....
That's a good tip for suctioning, no chance of accidentally looking down the barrel that way!
We only had the small scorpions in FL. I was amazed the first time I dealt with one - they could really take a whacking with a broomstick! I couldn't kill the thing!
Hahaha! I'm so glad to see I'm not the only person terrified of vomit! I'm only about 2 weeks into my PCA job, and haven't seen any yet, but I am just waiting to. When someone calls to say they are nauseated, I get a bit faint hoping they don't barf. Yesterday I got a lightheaded pt up in bed and I was standing in front of her when she belched. Lord, I thought she was going to vomit all over me, my eyes got real huge, and I tried to step to the side to give her a clear space hahaha. But she just had some belly bubbles to get up, no liquid :)
I guess it's only a matter of time, though... I better start getting used to the thought of it!
Hahaha! I'm so glad to see I'm not the only person terrified of vomit! I'm only about 2 weeks into my PCA job, and haven't seen any yet, but I am just waiting to. When someone calls to say they are nauseated, I get a bit faint hoping they don't barf. Yesterday I got a lightheaded pt up in bed and I was standing in front of her when she belched. Lord, I thought she was going to vomit all over me, my eyes got real huge, and I tried to step to the side to give her a clear space hahaha. But she just had some belly bubbles to get up, no liquid :)
I guess it's only a matter of time, though... I better start getting used to the thought of it!
You will ..... just think of it as used food !! It's a sort of inside out recycling !!
My phobia is helping to clean up the deceased and it is still hard for me. I absolutely can not clean up a dead body by myself, but i can try, at least with other people in the room helping.
Needles, needles, needles, needles. Didn't really if I was getting stuck or not, the things freaked me out. When I decided to go into healthcare I realized that this might be a problem and started forcing myself to watch when I got a vaccine, blood draw, etc. Now I'm at the point that I'm almost volunteering to be stuck for a shot and it really doesn't bother me anymore.
Have any of you had to overcome any phobias to become a nurse? 
:icon_roll:chair:
xtxrn, ASN, RN
4,267 Posts
Yeah, boogers are bummers....I hated the ones harked out of trachs.... I'd pull the bed away from the wall, lock it, and suction from behind the HOB...no chance of getting hit from soggy shrapnel. The wall..????? That was another story
Bleechhhhh. 
:icon_roll:chair:
It's just protein and water... like cow poop is grass and water (still don't want it on my shoes, but makes it sound less like toxic waste)-- OK, so there are bacteria....