Area of hospital with minimal vomit...

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

Hi. I'm currently on the waitlist for nursing school and I've wanted to be a nurse my whole life...but I have emetophobia and am quite afraid of vomit! I'm sure I could suck it up and deal with it, but I'm just wondering if there are any areas in the hospital that have minimal vomit exposure?

Man, I really want to take this and run with it making funny vomit jokes. :)

But, I understand phobias can be crippling for some folks, so I will refrain.

Phobias are a psychological disorder that manifest with varying degrees of unwanted physical reactions.

Go find a therapist that specializes in dealing with phobias. From what I've "heard" immersion therapy is the quickest route to overcoming them (I'm not suggesting you take a bath in vomit, but perhaps instead of running from your fear, choose instead to face it head on with guidance from a therapist).

I have a pee "phobia" but I deal with it. I don't like it, but I will empty a urinal if I have to. :)

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

Ortho might be okay. Definitely not oncology, GI, or pacu.

RainMom · Jan 15, 2012

Ortho might be okay. Definitely not oncology, GI, or pacu.

I've been working ortho for just over 3 months now, & while vomit is not an everyday thing, it is not uncommon either. I guess it would depend on what type of ortho floor it is; for me, it is surgical. Most pts get a morphine PCA for the first 24 hrs, often causing N/V; then, some will have issues with the po pain meds as well. And then you occasionally get those pts that just get nauseated from the pain itself. All pts have orders for zofran or reglan to keep N/V under control. So, while ortho may be better than other depts, I would say that any post-surgical or pain pt is potential for vomit.

netglow, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

The more you run from it, the quicker it finds you. As it is with all gross things.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

I don't know about ortho because anything surgical you'll be dealing with potential post-op nausea/vomiting. I think you run the risk of seeing a lot of vomit on any medical specialty floor. If you're planning on being in direct patient care (which it would be pretty difficult to get a job doing anything else with no experience) there will be vomit. Patients vomit, it happens. Hold your breath, dump it, and go get them some Zofran.

Perhaps OR nursing... the patients are under anesthesia, they don't typically vomit until they wake up and by then, they're in the PACU. OR is rather difficult to get into right out of school, though.

Morainey, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

Definitely not ortho. Our fresh post ops do a lot of vomiting. Sometimes at a second's notice with no prior nausea. I have gotten used to it, but if it's something that freaks you out, just be aware :)

General med-surg, when I get floated there, seems to always have a couple of N/V/Ds also.

alxndria.mrqtt · Jan 15, 2012

What about NICU? I have no issues with baby puke, as I have two kids of my own... I'm sure it requires more than an RN though??

Old.Timer · Jan 15, 2012

If it is significant enough that you refer to it as emetophobia vs just an aversion to vomit then I'm not so sure nursing is the wisest option for you. Same as someone with entomophobia, they probably wouldn't want to become an exterminator etc....

gaylarn4 · Jan 15, 2012

The more you run from it, the quicker it finds you. As it is with all gross things.

:rotfl:

gaylarn4 · Jan 15, 2012

Man, I really want to take this and run with it making funny vomit jokes. :)
But, I understand phobias can be crippling for some folks, so I will refrain.
Phobias are a psychological disorder that manifest with varying degrees of unwanted physical reactions.
Go find a therapist that specializes in dealing with phobias. From what I've "heard" immersion therapy is the quickest route to overcoming them (I'm not suggesting you take a bath in vomit, but perhaps instead of running from your fear, choose instead to face it head on with guidance from a therapist).
I have a pee "phobia" but I deal with it. I don't like it, but I will empty a urinal if I have to. :)

So did I!!! Especially the part about sucking it up............sorry!! I have a needle phobia and have gotten used to nurses that laugh at me so I have no room to make fun of others! :lol2:

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

i work ortho, and like others have said, i dont see a lot of vomiting, but of course it happens r/t pain meds sometimes. i find they do most of their puking in PACU before they get to us. haha.

if baby puke doesnt bother you, then NICU is a possibility. you dont necessarily need more than an RN to work there, but it is hard to get right into a NICU position. they normally want some peds or mother-baby experience first-- both of which have their fair share of vomit. also, NICU is very emotionally taxing and i wouldnt suggest anyone go into that area unless they are truly passionate about it-- not just as a means to escape vomit.

you could also go into community health nursing or psych..