Anyone Squeamish?

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Hey all!!!

This is my first post and I'm so excited I found this site! I was an art history student and had one of those "aha!" moments and am now changing to nursing. I really look forward to doing something that will give me a reason to get out of bed in the morning, but what had deterred me from really pursuing nursing in the first place is that I tend to get grossed out easily on particular things like the noise someone makes when vomiting (I begin to retch!) or the smell of puke, too.

Also, poop and pee and blood aren't too bad for me, although if it smelled particularly bad I might gag. And then, sometimes if I am watching discovery health channel or something like that, and there is a very graphic surgery in which they are sucking fat out or pulling out entrails, I get pretty queasy!

I know that I want to be a nurse so bad, and they say that you can always get past it. I sure do hope so! I was just curious if any of you have dealt with similar problems and how you got over them?

I'll be doing CNA training this summer and hear I'll be knee deep in gross stuff.

Hi to all!

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Specializes in LTC, Psych.

I am totally with you on the puke. I just can't deal with it. Baby puke is ok, but when my 5 year old threw up a few months ago (spaghetti), I puked myself just cleaning it up. This really has me bothered.

I am ok with blood, guts, poop and the like.....it's just that dang puke that gets me every time!:uhoh3:

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Specializes in LTC Rehab.

You will be able to tell a lot more once you start CNA class, You may surprise yourself I think every nurse has one thing that they don't like

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I have the same issue. For some reason, when it's an infant it doesn't matter.

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Thanks for your replies; it's good to hear that it can be done or gotten over.

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Specializes in Ob/Gyn, Ped & PACU.

I was the same way when I started school. I had a very weak stomach for things like that. However, after my first quarter in a nursing home I am nuch better at most of it. One thing I don't think I will ever get use to is the stench of wound care. I puke every time! LOL We all have our items that we just can't take & that is definately mine hands down. I gagged quite a bit at first, but you do develop a tolerance to many smells, sights & sounds as you go....

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I am getting queasy just reading these posts. I also have a terrible gag reflex...especially for vomit, hopefully it does get easier to deal with like everyone says!

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In my experience, you'll get desensitized in the long run. And you wont mind so much. I dissected cadavers for a year. It started really disgusting, but after a month or two I could honestly say, I didnt even have any problems eating PBJ in front of the body.

:D

After numerous surprises (such as maggots, sometimes gunshot wounds right through the heart and stomach-- with all its putrid decaying contents), right now, im up for anything! Except that I cant eat mentos since we used to put peppermint oil on the bodies to make them smell better. It smelled so much of mentos, you could almost taste it in the air.

:D

Good luck!

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well my main thing is keeping a straight face.....lol i dont know how im going to do this without :bluecry1: face.......oh boy lol help!! think happy thoughts i guess but thats going to be hard

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What about breathing through your mouth instead of your nose? Doesn't anyone do that? If you breath through your mouth you don't have to smell anything.

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Specializes in RN-BC, CCRN, TCRN, CEN.

I know a Paramedic who was giving CPR when the Pt threw up in his mouth. Think you could take that?

Jeremy

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oh my gosh. someone throwing up in my mouth?!

i would throw up right back into the patients! lol.....

wow.

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