Area of hospital with minimal vomit...

KelRN215, BSN, RN · 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??

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Why would you need more than an RN to work as an RN in the NICU? It is difficult to get into the NICU as a new grad (I do know people who've done it) but you don't need "more than an RN" to be an RN in the NICU.

Though, if vomit scares you, I'm not so sure I'd recommend NICU. If you're afraid of a little vomit, would you be able to deal with a 1 kg 24 weeker or a baby born with something like omphalocele where their abdominal organs are on the outside?

Perpetual Student · Jan 15, 2012

I dunno, I work in the PACU and don't mind the puking as much there as in other areas. At least the patients have been NPO and it usually doesn't have a strong odor and is generally a small volume. Plus it's not all that common with aggressive pre-medication and rescue interventions. That said, it certainly does happen.

There really aren't any areas that are without nausea and vomiting, esp. that you'd be likely to get a job in as a new grad.

0402 · Jan 15, 2012

I work in med/ surg, and it just seems to come in waves. I go months without a single puker and next thing I know, it's like that scene from Stand By Me for a few shifts. Vomit and phlegm are my absolute weaknesses, but I've gotten to the point where I can take the basin to the bathroom and hold in the gagging until I'm by myself, cleaning it out in toilet. I can't say you get used to it, per se, but you learn to adapt and deal with it.

4_Sq · Jan 15, 2012

The OR Hands down! Very little emesis and when it happens anesthesia gives N&V drugs to rapidly inhibit this!

allnurses Guide · Jan 15, 2012

Have a kid or two. You will know you are over it when you cup your hands together to catch it without even thinking in order to save your new carpet/couch/pants etc.

alxndria.mrqtt · Jan 15, 2012

KelRN215- What I mean by "more than an RN" is requiring a BSN. And I could most definitely deal with abdominal organs on the outside...and pretty much anything else. I could deal with vomit (and go home afterwards with a panic attack), but I would obviously prefer something with *limited* vomiting. I completely understand there are no areas of the hospital that are vomit free.

not.done.yet- I do have two kids, but neither of them (knock on wood) have thrown up anything more than spit up as infants.

allnurses Guide · Jan 15, 2012

I'm going to go with the people who suggested working with babies. It's really the smell and the undigested solid food that get to me. I don't think baby barf is that bad.

ORoxyO · Jan 15, 2012

I agree with the OR...not much in the way of vomit there. As far as ortho though, I worked in ortho for 1.5 years before the OR and there was tons of vomit. Of course all of our patients had surgery so the mix of all those heavy narcotics and anesthesia drugs caused lots vomiting....it was like barf-o-rama.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

YOU can work in NICU without a BSN but yoou will have to probably work L&D before having enough experience to be considered.

I too wanted to run with the vomit jokes.....but I can tell you are serious. I can't really say any area is vomit free as everyone gets sick at one time or another. I agree with getting someone to help you work through your phobia. Maybe an outpatient IV clinic?

I wish you the best.

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

Another idea for you (has worked for me for 20+ years, most of the time)....make friends fast. I hate, hate, hate vomit. I made my husband clean up the puke when my kids were young and I taught them to clean up their own when they were pretty little because I just can't do it...easier to buy them new sheets. haha

Anyways, I've always been quick to offer to clean up the major code brown, take the spewy trach patient or whatever else was grossing someone out, then whenever I got a puker I called in the favors. Actually works pretty well.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

KelRN215- What I mean by "more than an RN" is requiring a BSN. And I could most definitely deal with abdominal organs on the outside...and pretty much anything else. I could deal with vomit (and go home afterwards with a panic attack), but I would obviously prefer something with *limited* vomiting. I completely understand there are no areas of the hospital that are vomit free.
not.done.yet- I do have two kids, but neither of them (knock on wood) have thrown up anything more than spit up as infants.

A BSN is not "more than an RN" though. People with a BSN take the NCLEX-RN and become licensed as RNs. I am a BSN prepared RN and I have the exact same license and scope of practice as my colleagues who are Associates or Diploma prepared. RN is a license while BSN is a degree so it doesn't really make sense to say that one is more than the other because they are two different things. If anything, an RN license is worth more than a BSN alone because you can't do anything with just a BSN and no license.

Whether or not a NICU would require a BSN would depend on the hospital. I am quite certain there are nurses working in the NICU at my hospital who do not have their BSN. Some would probably require a new grad to have a BSN but that's true of many hospitals these days, especially academic medical centers.

If vomit is going to cause you panic attacks are you sure it's worth it? If my job was causing me panic attacks, I'd promptly begin looking for a new one because no job is worth your health.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2012

"i do have two kids, but neither of them (knock on wood) have thrown up anything more than spit up as infants. "

they will. trust me on this. but since they're your kids, it's somehow not the same, and you'll be fine c it.