Good answer? Sign In Seven, RN2b 142 Posts A question that I have been wanting to ask - but, didn't know how to bring it up (and this thread gave me the perfect opportunity) - Is it inappropriate to gag when dealing with these smells (stool, vomit, etc)? How do you control gagging? Or do you "just get used to it" and you eventually don't have those kinds of reactions?
Good answer? Sign In Nightcrawler, BSN, RN 320 Posts Specializes in Cardiothoracic Transplant Telemetry. How about the pee you get after someone gets their banana bag for ETOH withdrawal. I swear, the combination of the smell of urine, alcohol and multivitamin gets me every time. I don't think that I will ever get used to that one. I would prefer the smell of c-diff any day
Good answer? Sign In Warpster 151 Posts WeeBabyRN wrote, "I think it smells like road kill on a 100 degree day mixed with silent but deadly flatus."Yeah, that's the one. Once you smell it, you can diagnose it when you get off the elevator on your floor, trust me.The good news is that eventually you get used to it, and it's just another diagnostic tool, that sense of smell for things you don't particularly want to know.
Good answer? Sign In cjudesaenz 23 Posts Wow... this thread is insane... it kind of freaking me out... thank god for my iron stomach... to bad I have an acute sense of smell... Looking forward to using the old schnozola when I start clincials... WOW just WOW...
Good answer? Sign In hecete 30 Posts yuck, you can definately diagnose c-diff by the unforgetable smell. i actually had another nurse order stool for c-diff on a resident that was constipated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good answer? Sign In EmmaG, RN 2,999 Posts Lots of unique smells... Cdiff, GI bleed, bowel obstructions, infections, neuro, renal, liver, etc. And thankfully one I don't encounter so much anymore, advanced cervical cancer.
Good answer? Sign In CitrusBeeRN 19 Posts Specializes in pediatric transplant. Earthy...almost like the smell of compost...but worse.
Good answer? Sign In BlueEyedRN 171 Posts Specializes in ICU. A question that I have been wanting to ask - but, didn't know how to bring it up (and this thread gave me the perfect opportunity) - Is it inappropriate to gag when dealing with these smells (stool, vomit, etc)? How do you control gagging? Or do you "just get used to it" and you eventually don't have those kinds of reactions?If you can tell from outside the room that you are going to gag, wear a mask, spray something in it or use mentholatum, and breathe through your mouth. I've gagged in front of patients before, but it was pretty bad and honestly, they knew it and were embarrassed, but understood. A lot of times, I just get into a zone when I'm in there working with it, but then outside the room I have to lay my head down for a minute to keep from throwing up. Just try to focus on what you have to do and try not to think about what you've got your (well-gloved) hands in.
Good answer? Sign In ERnewbieRN, BSN, RN 91 Posts Specializes in Emergency, Nursing Management, Auditing. Has 16 years experience. Cdiff smells almost... fishy, there is a slight undertone of fishiness to it. It's hard to describe otherwise. One of my other least favorite smells is multivitamins... you know, when you're mixing a banana bag and you can't get the smell of the MVI off your hands! Yuck!
Good answer? Sign In nici1978 70 Posts Specializes in Med/Surg and Wound Care, PACU. i always hated to go into rooms with patients that had cirrhosis of the liver....yeeeks
Good answer? Sign In pezzy68 29 Posts Specializes in Med/ surg,ortho.onc,supvsn. Has 18 years experience. So true, you can tell alot about the patient by smells, even before you read anything about them....
