Considering nursing school, but I have a slight problem

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First of all, I've always wanted to be in a nurse. It's exciting and interactive, unlike other solitary jobs. I'm prepared to study my orifice off and I'm basically, prepared to expect the unexpected. I work well with people and I'm humorous most of the time.

My problem is that whenever I study about the reproductive organs and seeing them, I kind of freak myself out.

I can deal the blood, the shots, the poop, and maybe the puke, but what about those foley catheter insertions?

Am I going to be able to be desentisized about it after a while?

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

Personally, whether people are standing around clothed or stark naked.....I probably wouldn't notice anymore.

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So do you mean, I would get used to it after a while?

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Specializes in LTC.

Yep. Took me two weeks to get used to it. And I'd never seen a naked man before.....so yeah..you'll get used to it.

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Take a CNA class...It will help you figure out if you can handle seeing (and bathing) naked people and all of their parts. Classes don't take too long and you won't have a lot of time or money invested if you can't handle it.

Foley Catheters used to scare me too. I have had a few painful ones. So I made it my personal mission to be really good at inserting catheters- I make it as painless and trauma free as possible.

Good Luck.

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I am(was) the most shy person when it comes to nudity, etc. prior to being a CNA and RN. Just realized we all have 'parts' just placed differently and they are there for a reason-you get used to it .

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I remember my very first clinical day on med-surg...my instructor told me to "put that patient on a bedpan"...I nearly threw up out of fear and embarrasment! I had literally never seen a bedpan, didn't know how to get this very large patient positioned properly, what should I do in the meantime, etc, etc. I thought I had truly picked the wrong profession...lol! And for a very long time, the slightest gross thing gave me NVE's (near-vomit-experiences), where I would literally gag. But, I am proud to say, I stuck it out, and it got MUCH easier VERY quickly. It is all part of the process of transforming into a nurse. If you have faith in the process, you will overcome these things, to the point that NOTHING will phase you!! Best of luck to you...

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

It's not a problem...it's a challenge :)

Just remember when you're a nurse (or any other healthcare provider) you are a professional. You should be fine. However, we nurses are only human, and we all have that something that makes our skin crawl...(mine is fingernails coming off...strange?). But, we got to put it aside and get things done.

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Specializes in LTC.

i used to be so modest before nursing..now when i go to the gym with my friends they are all hiding in corners doing weird pretzel moves to keep from flashing a bit of skin in the locker room and here i am strippin next to the lockers without a care in the world...they still laugh at me...it's a definite side effect of the job lol, and it extends to include others...you'll get to where you won't even bat an eyelash at anything body related. that includes private body parts, female and male. and you'll be suprised how quickly you get over it.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

You begin to compartment-ize things in your mind, so that what you might think of as embarassing right now, does not trigger the same response in the clinical setting, and learn to at least control your voice and expression in the beginning. It doesn't take too long before you become matter of fact about these things. :)

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We all have some Achillies heel (sp?) in nursing, there's something that gets all of us going eww-but you get used to it, or find a way to deal. For me it's people spitting-everyday life is gross! May I suggest immerson therapy? Get some reproductive models or ::ahem:::any thing else that shows genitalia::: and watch! Good luck, it's something you can work through, now if you were scared of people-that would be a problem!

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I got over that within the first month as a CNA. After that I would just see bodies.

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