Awkward moments

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just curious as to what some of the most awkward things a basic RN has do do to meet doc's orders.:nurse:

Specializes in LTC.

After awhile a lot of these things become second nature. For anyone who is worried about not overcoming these things in nursing school try out being a CNA for awhile. I've been a CNA for four years and so many things are quickly becoming second nature to me.

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I don't know about anyone else but I had a pretty "awkward" moment. I'm still in nursing school but I needed to get a stool sample on a woman with diarrhea so I asked the nurse how we were going to do it. She basically told me to take a spoon and scoop it into the cup. Yeah...THAT was not fun! lol. Not sure if that's the exact protocol for taking a stool sample with these types of patients but what do I know....I'm still a student. :p

Yep, that's how it's done! Spoon if it's liquid, tongue depressor for the thicker stuff. High tech it ain't! ;)

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Not sure what you're meaning? I've never done anything awkward to meet a doctor's order....I've had to call to clarify something that doesn't make sense countless times, but it's never awkward.

Now, if the order said "dance the hula in front of Mr. X until he's responsive", I suppose that would be awkward.... ;)

But fun. And great exercise. :yeah::jester:

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Specializes in Making the Pt laugh..

Since graduating and Nursing "for real" I have not been embarrassed, yet. As a student I had some occasions that floored me, not because of the procedure but the Pt's attitude...my first cath removal was a classic example. At Uni in the prac lessons we were taught how to remove the cath while maintaining modesty for the Pt while maintaining a clinical/dignified air. My first cath removal was an atractive older lady who lay back spread her legs wide and said, "Go ahead! Theres no modesty in hospital and you are the hardly the ugliest man who has played down there!" Yes, I was embarrassed but it helped me "grow" as a nurse.

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Specializes in Student but interested in neuroscience..

Wow,that would make me blush! I guess crazy incidences give you something to laugh about at the end of the day. LOL

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I think the most awkward thing I have had to do as a nurse is tell a friend (who was also a pt at the OB clinic where I worked) that she had an STD. She was pregnant and having some discharge that wasn't quite normal. She in turn had to go have an uncomfortable discussion with her hubby.

I don't know where the STD came from (his infidelity or hers), but the situation was awkward, indeed. I started the conversation with something like "I love you, and I want you to know that even though we are friends, I am still also your nurse, and your medical information is confidential." To which she replied "Oh sh*t. That doesn't sound good."

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Hmm...the most awkward order...

"LOC...if compacted, decompact" You all know what that means!

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Wow it's late...I meant "if empacted..disempact" I'm so tired!

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Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.
Wow it's late...I meant "if empacted..disempact" I'm so tired!

Yep, that's my opinion too...just the word "disimpaction" makes me cringe. :no:

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Specializes in NICU.
I was just curious as to what some of the most awkward things a basic RN has do do to meet doc's orders.:nurse:

Daily care things are pretty embarrassing for the adult patients....wiping peri areas, lifting to clean under breasts or scrotums or whatever else has secret hiding spots for ickiness, enemas, etc.

I lost my embarrassment for those things many moons ago. Personally....I just remember that a patient vomiting on themselves, being incontinent of stool or what-have-you....is such a humiliating experience...that it quickly erases any uncomfortable feelings I might have had. It's just not about me.

It just breaks my heart to have a little elderly lady...who can hardly lift a spoon full of jell-o...apologize for the fact that I have to wipe her bum. Apologize? Really? Please, ma'am, don't worry about that....I'm more than happy to help you feel more comfortable.

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Daily care things are pretty embarrassing for the adult patients....wiping peri areas, lifting to clean under breasts or scrotums or whatever else has secret hiding spots for ickiness, enemas, etc.

I lost my embarrassment for those things many moons ago. Personally....I just remember that a patient vomiting on themselves, being incontinent of stool or what-have-you....is such a humiliating experience...that it quickly erases any uncomfortable feelings I might have had. It's just not about me.

It just breaks my heart to have a little elderly lady...who can hardly lift a spoon full of jell-o...apologize for the fact that I have to wipe her bum. Apologize? Really? Please, ma'am, don't worry about that....I'm more than happy to help you feel more comfortable.

I commented about this in one of the papers I wrote for Gerontology class. When I was in the hospital for a GI bleed I found the intimate personal care to be a fascinating new experience. I knew, however, that I would make a full recovery, and be able to take care of myself again.

If, God forbid, I decline to the point where I can never take care of myself again, I would not apologize for it. Instead, I would probably quote a former employee. He said: "It's hell getting old."

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Straight cathing a male patient who was around my age (25). That was awkward and I felt so bad doing it.

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