Cleaner RN jobs

[kyonguyen22]

I am a nursing student at Jacksonville State University. After doing clinical, I think I would like an RN job that limit contact with dirty stuff because I felt uncomfortable if I have to smell or see feces, vomit, wounds, or urine. In general, I want a cleaner job like outpatient RNs, whose job is mainly taking vital signs and assessment. Anybody want to give me advice about what nursing field is suitable for me or want to share your experience with me? By the way, I would like to work at UAB after graduation.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I can totally understand your reasoning (yeah that stuff is yuck!), but those jobs almost always go to more experienced nurses so you may need to put in some time with some major bodily fluids for a while. Look for any jobs in the outpatient arena in order to decrease your bodily fluid exposure, but realize it will be hard to avoid completely.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

You should get outta dodge now, doesn't sound like you are meant for nursing!

Happy

[SNIXRN]

Maybe consider becoming a RN Research Coordinator if you want to avoid direct contact.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Telephonic nursing, school nursing, legal nurse consultant, doctors office, outpatient, methadone clinic. Yes you have options. I don't think you are a bad person for feeling the way you do. Atleast you are honest.

[mystory, BSN, RN]

Don't let anyone tell you that you're not suited for nursing. After a few years in Med/Surg, I was ready for a job that didn't include wiping butts of immobile obese pts on a daily basis. Consider psych. I made the switch and haven't looked back. I now rarely have contact with pts' unpleasant bodily fluids and functions. This was a major factor in the switch to psych, and I am unapologetic about it..if others have a problem with that, that is their problem and not mine. There are lots of options out there..all the best.

[germanshep]

The great thing about nursing is there are soooo many non-bedside opportunities (mentioned earlier). Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Other ideas is working as a Case Manager, Health Educator, Diabetes Educator, etc (some of these positions may require X amount of experience and additional certificates/education). A major nationwide health insurance company in my vicinity was hiring an RN for a great position-taking vital signs, diet management, medication education, grocery shopping, healthy cooking, etc. It sounded great. Good luck in your search, I know you will find your niche :)

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

Personally, I love dealing with poop and vomit! You should give it another chance; t's the best thing in the world!

[noahsmama]

Telephonic nursing, school nursing, legal nurse consultant, doctors office, outpatient, methadone clinic. Yes you have options. I don't think you are a bad person for feeling the way you do. Atleast you are honest.

You can add public health nursing to this list. However, be aware that most of these jobs will want you to have acute care (i.e. hospital inpatient) experience first before they'll hire you.

[PAERRN20]

Personally, I love dealing with poop and vomit! You should give it another chance; t's the best thing in the world!

I don't know anyone who loves :heartbeat dealing with poop and vomit. Do not feel bad about this and do not let anyone make you feel like a bad nurse because of this. I recently switched to the outpatient setting. I can deal with urine and vomit, but blood and poop gets me!

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

I've never understood why people go into nursing when anyone with a grain of common sense KNOWS this is part of the job. Why did you go into nursing if you don't want to do this? Kind of sounds like you've wasted your time doing this study.

I see so many posts like this and I wonder what the uni's are teaching kids. Don't you get exposed to all this in your first year? Also do you all really think in your first year about whether this career is for you or not?

It is part of the job and it isn't all about cleaning up 'yukky' stuff. I think most poeple get used to it (some never do but they just get thru it). And you need to get at least 12 months critical care expereicene (med/surg) to get another position.

Sorry looks like you've screwed yourself unless you do that 12 months - and just put up with the 'yukky' stuff. If you don't do the 12 months, you will be missing out on great learning opportunities to consolidate your nursing.

Whatever happened to doing the hard yards to get where you wanted to go, and putting up with the good and bad stuff as well?

[Picklefreak]

Poop and vomit and blood are just the beginning. Wait until you suction a trach or come across your first pressure ulcer with undermining and tunneling. Or assist with a paracentesis and hold an evacuated container as it fills with the warm, straw-colored fluid that drains out of the patient. It is super gross sometimes and no one likes it. What helps me deal with it is thinking that I am just glad I'm not on the other side of the equation. I would much rather be cleaning someone's poop than be in the position of having someone else clean mine.

There is nothing wrong or shameful with not liking that aspect of nursing, and there are certainly areas where your contact with them will be limited. Just understand that you will usually have to put in a few years doing the down and dirty stuff. But don't sweat it, you can make it! It's really not that bad!