Cleaner RN jobs

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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.

I don't think it's fair to criticize or attack the OP for wanting a "cleaner" job. No, nasty crap (like poop and blood) are not a part of every nursing job. I don't see anything wrong with having a preference for 'cleaner' jobs. There are other specialties in nursing that don't involved the 'dirty' stuff. I say, OP, go for it. I don't think the OP is screwed and absolutely needs a yr of experience doing 'dirty' work to get to where she wants to be. SEVERAL of the students in my class have so-called "cleaner' jobs and they got their jobs straight out of school with no experience.

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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.

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting a more office-based position (insurance or drug company, perhaps?), though I don't know how much luck you'll have without a little hands-on experience first. But I would look closely at outpatient jobs before you jump in expecting them to be all that clean or easy. I have a wonderful, 4 day a week job as a clinic nurse, and in the last week, I've changed dressings, given meds through a J tube, removed sutures, inserted a Foley, done IVs, blood draws, collected sputum cultures, pulled drains, among other things. It's certainly cleaner than when I worked on the floor, but I still wouldn't wear anything that can't be bleached!

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

I second this suggestion. You could work for a pharmaceutical company coordinating drug trials, and such.

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Public health nursing is the way to go! I LOVE my job! I never touch poop, vomit, blood, or mucous ---and I got my job after only 8 months in the hospital. Nursing is such a great profession that offers something for everyone. Don't let anyone tell you that you wasted your time in school. You will find that special job made just for you :)

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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?

What baffles me even more are the supportive posts along the line of, "Don't worry, you can always find a job doing (insert "clean" nursing job). Hello? Does anyone read this board? People are struggling to get jobs in the hospital on medical floors, aka "dirty" jobs, let alone getting jobs where you get to avoid having to be exposed to the icky stuff. I think it is extremely unrealistic and does the OP a disservice to give her the idea that that sort of job is going to be waiting for her when she graduates.

Carol, it seems like the days you describe are long gone. Everyone wants and expects to get it now.

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Specializes in OR.

If someone wants something bad enough, and is resourceful enough to find ways to do it, they can find a job that they desire. OP, it may not be easy, but you can DEFINATELY find a job that is a "cleaner" RN job.

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Working at a hospital though, you're going to be most likely pushed towards floor nursing as a new grad, and you know what that means..... exactly what you're NOT looking for. You know what? I don't blame you one bit for wanting a clean job. When I worked in a hospital, employees came to work sick all the time, because of staffing shortages, and the need for money. You think the administration really cares that much? Some places probably do, depending on the manager, but most have the belief that if you can work through it, then do it.

We had patients who came in and we had on standard precautions while waiting for tests, then they'd come back with all sorts of nasty junk on the results. Patients who wanted to cough all over you dx'd with TB, even though your gowned, gloved, masked in a TB room, it just feels icky to have that happen. I don't blame you one BIT.

Just keep up the search. Be diligent, and send your resume everywhere! Even if you think you might not have a shot, apply anyway! You never know, right? Go to different doctor's offices in PERSON and ask if they are hiring. You're only limiting yourself if you don't throw yourself out there.

Goodluck!

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Specializes in LTC.
:rolleyes: :barf02:

I don't know anyone who loves :heartbeat dealing with poop and vomit.

That was my point. I'm not judging the OP for wanting a "clean" job, but I couldn't help but bust out laughing at what was basically, "well, it turns out that poop is actually kinda gross..."

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Thanks everyone for your advices. I appreciate it very much. To be honest, I switched my major from pre-med to nursing just because I think med-school is too hard and too long for me. However, I really love health science and my school has a good nursing program so I chose it. The problem is I can't stand poop and ****. I'm fine with blood and things that don't smell though. So, I think I would prefer a job in a clinic. When I was in a Gastro clinic to do the upper endoscopy, the nurse just interviewed, take vital signs, gave IVs, ... That sounds like what I want to do. Btw, I've always wanted to work in a gastroenterology clinic ;)

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

You are so funny!:lol2:

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Specializes in cardiology/oncology/MICU.
Thanks everyone for your advices. I appreciate it very much. To be honest, I switched my major from pre-med to nursing just because I think med-school is too hard and too long for me. However, I really love health science and my school has a good nursing program so I chose it. The problem is I can't stand poop and ****. I'm fine with blood and things that don't smell though. So, I think I would prefer a job in a clinic. When I was in a Gastro clinic to do the upper endoscopy, the nurse just interviewed, take vital signs, gave IVs, ... That sounds like what I want to do. Btw, I've always wanted to work in a gastroenterology clinic ;)

I don't know I had a patient with a bleed in the stomach recently. Endo came in the middle of the night and scoped him, but there was so much blood in his gut that they could not find the bleed to burn or clamp it. The suctioning of that much blood mad me experience nausea. Quite the nasty night. I do not really like dealing with the poop that much either, but you get used to it. Give it some time and get through school. I found that the thinggs I always thought were going to bother me the most in the end don't bother me at all anymore. Hang in there and find a way to go to your happy place when the smells come:cool:

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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.

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If you are looking for a "cleaner job" I dont know if I would consider a GI clinic. I must point out, that one the things you didn't like dealing with is POOP. All I can say is "GI Bleed" that is the most unbearable smell ever. At this moment I'm looking for a clinic job myself, but it seems so hard to find one (that I want). But I can totally understand where you are coming from, I felt the same way a few months after nursing. I know one thing I will not be a Floor Nurse until the day I retire. Also, consider going back to school for NP or PA. I will be pursing my NP in a few months.

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