Do you get used to the nasty messes?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

I've been lurking around the site for awhile and I've read tons of posts from CNAs. I was just wondering, do you guys get used to cleaning up people? Or is it something that still gets to you? I have a 2 year old brother and change his diaper from time to time, but idk if it can compare to changing grown people diapers. Anyone have any horror stories?

SOMETIMES PCTs do those things, but since the position isn't a licensed one, it can really be used somewhat freely. The hospital I worked at had some floors who had PCTs do blood sugars, blood draws, and ekgs, etc, while some of the other floors used the PCTs strictly as aides. I don't think there is really any regulation on the term, at least in Indiana. Or if there is, I don't think it gets regulated. The downside of being a PCT is that you generally don't have to be certified (unless the hospital itself requires it) so your CNA certification might not remain active. Just depends on your facility.

As for the poop, it's not that you ever get to where you just don't notice it (sometimes it's impossible not to, especially if you have a lot of tube feeds), you just get used to it enough that you don't dwell on it.

Either way, you'll get good experience. Just don't rule out LTC, because it can be hard to get hired in a hospital without prior experience! It took me over a year to finally get hired there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also keep in mind that you will see a whole lot worse than poop and pee in the hospital, oh man. I have a pretty strong stomach and there were times that I'd dry heave.

It really is a great learning experience, though. Just be prepared.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

Trust me, you get used to it VERY quickly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Poop is gonna be the least of your worries. I've only been a CNA for a few months and I've been peed on, gotten BM on my scrubs, had people wipe themselves then grab all over me, bloody beds to strip...it's nasty, hard work. And I love it. I'm going to nursing school and while I'm excited I will actually miss having as much pt contact as I do now.

Being a CNA or a PCT is so much more than cleaning up poop. Even if you feel that is all you the entire shift. The difference between a good CNA and a bad one can be as big as whether or not a person gets a gaping pressure sore, or something as small as adequate fluids. It's a very important role in patient/resident care.

Trust me if you know how important what you're doing is it makes it easier to overlook how unpleasant some of the aspects of the job can be.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
Jeez, way to make it appealing. Haha. I work at a bookstore and tonight, no joke, someone had explosive diarrhea all over one of the bathroom stalls and I just kept thinking, "This is what my future holds..". I hope it's all more than just cleaning poop. I'm leaning towards being a PCT so I can do other work. I think the thought of something more than just feces and urine getting on my skin is what scares me though. Mucus and weird bodily secretions, etc.

Well THAT would gross me out... cleaning a stranger's poop. I work in LTC and when we get someone new I'm sometimes grossed out at first, but after I get to know the person I don't care anymore. I work in rehab from time to time where the patient turnover is quick, and it's not even that bad with those people because I can talk to them so it's not like it's some unknown puddle of diarrhea. lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.
unknown puddle of diarrhea. lol.

that was funny and gross at the same time lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, progressive care.

You get used to it. Sometimes you will see some pretty gross things, like one patient who was on a TF. I *HATE* TF poop because it's sooo runny and it just keeps coming out, especially in pts who are too weak to control that sphincter. He had a massive BM and was fingerpainting with it... :shudder:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, progressive care.
Jeez, way to make it appealing. Haha. I work at a bookstore and tonight, no joke, someone had explosive diarrhea all over one of the bathroom stalls and I just kept thinking, "This is what my future holds..". I hope it's all more than just cleaning poop. I'm leaning towards being a PCT so I can do other work. I think the thought of something more than just feces and urine getting on my skin is what scares me though. Mucus and weird bodily secretions, etc.

Just because you're a PCT doesn't mean you won't clean up poop! Oftentimes a PCT is a CNA with a different title and often without the "certification" but they will still do the same stuff.

I am a NST (nursing student technician) and I do CNA work + anything I have learned in school except assess (but even that has a gray area because we are allowed to do dressing changes, both sterile and non-sterile) and pass meds. It's great, but I still have to clean up messes too from time to time!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in None, but will very soon :).
that was funny and gross at the same time lol

I know. I giggled for a good minute.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You get used to it. Sometimes you will see some pretty gross things like one patient who was on a TF. I *HATE* TF poop because it's sooo runny and it just keeps coming out, especially in pts who are too weak to control that sphincter. He had a massive BM and was fingerpainting with it... :shudder:[/quote']

Tell me about it! I work with DD kids, and of our 80 residents, 42 of them are tube feeds. :eek:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, I was just thinking about this...I start a CNA program in two weeks and I'm a little nervous. I think we'll get used to dealing with this kind of stuff...I hope! :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.
Wow, I was just thinking about this...I start a CNA program in two weeks and I'm a little nervous. I think we'll get used to dealing with this kind of stuff...I hope! :up:

your start in 2 weeks? me 2!

and although I am hearing all this I super excited about it tho

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment