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Hi All,
I'm in a nursing school and some of the stuff we see during clinicals gross me out! I AM getting used to most of it BUT, do you have any tips on how to take it easy?
Thanks!
Sputum.
What I hate most though, is the anxiety. Nursing is a 2nd career for me and I haven't been at it long enough to feel comfortable. Every shift I wonder if this will be the shift when I make a simple human error and harm someone with meds; injure someone because I am not strong enough or am doing something that really requires two people but no one else is available to help and the patient has to go "right now"; will I make a simple comment that a family or patient misconstrues or takes out of context and find myself in the manager's office accused of the unforgivable sin of insulting a patient; will I have to call a physician and misunderstand what they say causing a huge mistake.
Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork is number one for me. Cigarette smoke, pests, pet hair, and people who allow their pets to climb all over me. I understand I'm a guest and they are going to approach me but after that please intervene. I try to politely explain that I have to see other patients and I need to keep myself and my bag as clean as possible. I hate when my first patient of the day leaves me smelling like smoke or covered in pet hair for the rest of the day. If I know where I'm going ahead of time I'll make them my last stop.
I don't like the screamers. I've had to tell several patients to tone it down because I am not hard of hearing. They scream because they want Ativan but get Vistaril. They want Hydrocodone but get Ibuprofen. They want Ambien but get Benadryl.
Yes! Just today I had a discussion with an alert/oriented patient who was screaming at his aide HELP, HELP because he wanted her to come set him up for meal- she had 7 other patients and obviously can't be in 7 places at once- I told him he can't scream at her- it's not acceptable
Also last week a lady asked me if I could help her to use the restroom. I told her I'll call her CNAPerhaps the CNA had an attitude because a student wouldn't help someone to the restroom. Not saying it was right. Just a thought.
I get what you're saying but they specifically asked us not to move patients because if they fall it'll be a liability issue, I wish it was that, she just has that attitude all the time every time!
Poop in general I can handle. But poop seeping out of a colostomy bag? That's another story. It's got it's own brand of stench and I can barely get through cleaning it up without hurling!
On another side of things... I am a new nurse and my current pet peeve is that the aides literally will not speak to me! I have said hello and introduced myself & literally am getting BLANK STARES (except for like 2 that have actually responded). I mean seriously?!
B52, BSN, MSN, RN
238 Posts
I don't like the screamers. I've had to tell several patients to tone it down because I am not hard of hearing. They scream because they want Ativan but get Vistaril. They want Hydrocodone but get Ibuprofen. They want Ambien but get Benadryl.