Do you get hit/spit on? Does body fluids splash on you?

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 29, 2015

Nurses have been and will continue to be exposed to various patient's bodily fluids and substances, including but not limited to: spit, vomit, urine, feces, blood, sputum, what have you. This is why personal protective equipment (PPE) and universal/standard precautions exist. Your nursing program should cover this information prior to beginning clinical experiences; if they do not, you can find information at the CDC and OSHA websites.

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · Aug 29, 2015

I have been kicked, choked, hit, bitten, had urine/feces thrown at me, and am spit at almost daily. But, I have worked in psych for 15 years and now work with forensic patients who are murderers, rapists, etc.

BecomingNursey · Aug 29, 2015

Anytime you come into close contact with people on a daily basis because of your job you risk getting any of their bodily fluids on you. It happens.

And yes. I've been hit, slapped, a patient tried to bite me, I've been called just about every name you can be called. And I've been a nurse for a little less than 2 years. Do I tolerate that behavior? Nope. You better believe I walk outside the room and security is called to handle the situation.

KatFUTUREnurse · Aug 29, 2015

I find that so weird though... I was taught my whole life that it is bad to get someone's bodily fluids on you, but I guess since you guys are wearing protective gear that it will be alright. But it doesn't make me no less nervous that his stuff does happen.

Dogen · Aug 29, 2015

I find that so weird though... I was taught my whole life that it is bad to get someone's bodily fluids on you, but I guess since you guys are wearing protective gear that it will be alright. But it doesn't make me no less nervous that his stuff does happen.

We also believe it's not great to have another person's bodily fluid on us, but it comes with the job. You don't treat open wounds, GI bleeds, bowel obstructions, or a million other things without the high likelihood of coming into contact with fluid. But when people are bleeding, or vomiting uncontrollably, or vomiting poop... That's when they need medical care. Which is us and our friends at work. :)

Jules A, MSN · Aug 29, 2015

It happens and I would guess those who are overly concerned by this likelihood will probably have a large amount of anxiety if they decide to become a nurse.

As for working in psych imo if you are afraid of getting assaulted please skip this specialty. Not saying we should be happy about it just that it is likely to happen and if you are afraid you will be a liability to yourself and the team.

Anna S, RN · Aug 29, 2015

Getting hit, kicked, slapped, and getting body fluids on you are routine in nursing.

Edited to add: Getting cussed at is routine, as well.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Aug 29, 2015

I had a mom's bag of water break while she was standing by the bed and I was kneeling under her (baby was minutes from being born). My hair was DRIPPING. I learned my lesson, that's for sure!

But putting aside the *ick* factor, it was kind of cool. Like being baptized into midwifery.

One time I was helping a mom out of the labor tub because the water had become, erm... quite murky. Once we got her safely out, i realized my (shoulder length) glove had a rip in it, and my hand was just swimming in the brownish water.

I've also spilled a hat full of urine down my pants, and once had someone vomit all over my hands and lap. And I've had blood soak through my scrubs more than once. One time the cap on a tube of cord blood came off in my pocket. There's a reason you aren't supposed to put lab samples in your pocket, people.

I also had to perform M2M on a fresh newborn (it was a very bad situation, clearly. one of the most traumatic experiences in my life). I guess that's pretty gross, but it had to be done and I'd do it again.

Thank science for vaccines and PPE. I remember my nursing instructor telling me that back in "her" day, nurses were told to avoid gloves as much as possible so as not to offend their patient. YIKES. Despite my stories above, most contact with fluid can be avoided if you protect yourself and use common sense. But it will happen, almost certainly, to everyone.

weirdscience · Aug 30, 2015

Does that ever happen to you as a nurse? I was told by an ICU nurse that she was punched/spit on by a patient before or sometimes when her fellow nurses try to insert some type of chest tube in, blood will potentially splash on you. Isn't that not safe if someone else's bodily fluids get on you though?
She didn't go into much detail because we we're on an elevator and I told her that my major is nursing and we just went our separate ways after we got off the elevator... But I want to know much more, so is that true?

In ICU, what she described is quite common. You learn to protect yourself from fluid splash (ask experienced nurses what gear you need before you clean up any mess that's new to you), but if you take ETOH withdrawal, overdoses, or have post-surgical or neuro ICU patients, the potential for verbal or physical assault or patient attempts to contaminate you (usually with urine or sputum) are more common than you'd think.

DarkEyed · Aug 30, 2015

it's just part of the job! When I was an LPN at the prison when I first started out in my nursing journey, I got spit on, urine thrown at me, and semen shot at me. Lovely.

lunchboxRN · Aug 30, 2015

Hit, kicked, pinched, scratched, etc, etc. That is a perk of 80% of your patient pop having some level of dementia :cheeky:

My aides get it worse than me...since I see them less, when I go into the room, I am the good guy (lady)..the only one NOT trying to kill, poison, or steal from them!