I thought I'd put this here, since you guys have so much more experience, even though I'm only training as a CNA right now.
We're doing clinicals in a LTC facility, and today was the first time I got to change a brief (whee! how exciting!) Now, I'm not squeamish.. the idea of poop doesn't bother me, seeing the poop.. whatever. I'm good. But today the smell just hit me.. and I actually had to bolt and leave my partner there because I thought I was going to vomit. I was SO embarrassed because it was like.. a reflex. My supervising RN just looked at me and said (quite snottily) "and you have THREE kids?!" Sorry lady, but this was no baby poopie!
What do you veterans do to deal with the awful smell? Resident was on tons of meds and pureed diet, so it was REALLY terrible. I feel so bad, because it's not like I was consciously saying "ew" or something. Is there a trick to this?
I don't think I'll ever get used to cleaning poop, even after 4 years. It is just nasty. And maybe I'm feeling bitter from all the lactulose poo I've been wiping lately. That is the most horrible, sour smell to me.
Another smell that just turns my stomach, is the stench that comes out of the skin folds of larger patients with poor hygiene. Oh. My. Word. It smells worse than a farm.
And some people's hoohoos are THE WORST. It is like they have never taken a wash cloth and soap down there in the last 20 years!:uhoh21:
it will take time. at first you will want to run and hide somewhere, but believe me after years of doing this, you will get used to it. i like the idea of the halls coughdrops. it does work.
your clinical instructor obvious isn't used to seeing a student get sick. i see it all the time. i never belittle the student, but i do talk to them about the experience and actually i think it helps. i would never single out a student and put them on the spot about it, though. i was a cna years ago too and i have changed my fair share of people who have terrible smelling bm's. it's a part of the job be it cna, lpn, or rn. we all have to remember we are a team and we must do things for the patient/resident. they are the reason we have jobs!
I agree, NO mouth breathing! Even if nothing flies in, you can still smell it and it's almost like you're tasting it.
Always expect the smell. If you find it's not that bad, ok. If it's a gagger, take a second, turn your head, breathe out, breathe in.... hold it and change the briefly quickly. If you need a breath while you're changing, turn your head and breathe out/in again. Keep in mind you're much better off being the brief changer vs the brief wearer. You may not get used to it but you will be able to handle it more easily with experience.
I would never leave home without my Hall's or my stethoscope!:chuckle But breathing with my mouth open during incontinence care Seriously most things you do become enough used to that you can get through it; but everyone has problems with something -- so find a partner and trade duties. I just can't do prosthetic eyes :barf01: so I trade with my friend for trach care (I do a few more trachs for her than she does eyes for me - but it's SO worth it!!)
My God, if anybody deserves hardship pay, it's' nurses. Lay-people have no idea the "crap" you have to put up with. If anybody I know dares to put down the value of nurses, I'm going to xerox this thread and give it to them.
.. if I breathe though my mouth, my Altoid or Hall's might fall out...
Specializes in Addiction & Recovery, Community Health.
I keep a very small, thin tin of vicks in my pocket. It's very discreet. Sometimes you can get lucky and it comes in a sample package like this. The baby vicks with lavendar is nice and then you don't get so overwhelmed with the halls vapor smell. Lavendar is good for nausea anyway.
During my first clinical the pt i was caring for pooped all over his bed. Since this was the first time that I was cleaning someone, I asked a CNA to help me and show me the ropes. She handed me 2 masks to put on, and I remember I actually said "i dont need these we are only cleaning the pt" And she said trust me you will want to use them. So i went to put 1 of the 2 back and she said no use them both bc of the smell. Boy was she right! I don't think I would've got through that wo the masks, and I always use masks now when I am cleaning a pt. It is also a protection barrier in case some of the poop splashes up at you.
that is so funny its nasty "the Hoohoo's" 
,... have u ever smell melaena? it's an experience after that poppies become flowers
Seriously most things you do become enough used to that you can get through it; but everyone has problems with something -- so find a partner and trade duties. I just can't do prosthetic eyes :barf01: so I trade with my friend for trach care (I do a few more trachs for her than she does eyes for me - but it's SO worth it!!)
Lay-people have no idea the "crap" you have to put up with. If anybody I know dares to put down the value of nurses, I'm going to xerox this thread and give it to them.
brunomar75
10 Posts
anyway ivmama
,... have u ever smell melaena? it's an experience after that poppies become flowers