Do nurses have to clean up vomit?

Published

From my knowledge, they do have to wipe behinds every now and then and perform injections, but do nurses also have to clean up vomit? Sorry for asking this or if it may seem like a "duh" question because I'm leaning more towards the answer being 'yes', but I want a definite answer. Preferalbe from nurses who have had to do it. How was the experience? How to you deal with it? I think I would vomit myself just from the sight of it, let alone the smell :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Yes you have to clean up vomit:barf01: which can be particularly odiferous after a full meal with alcohol and pills. You just hope to keep off of your uniform, out of your pockets and out of your shoes. :uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Oh yes. We do clean up vomit.There are much worse things as well.Suctioning trachs,dressing necrotic wounds,cleaning up those liquid GI bleed stools,colostomy and ileostomy bags,

Depending on where you work the poop wiping may be more than once in a while.I do several times a day.

You get through it by just putting on those gloves and getting down to business. I breathe through my mouth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Of course not. Because nursing is all about ponies and rainbows.

All kidding aside, yes they do! If a patient throws up in the room, and your CNA is nowhere to be found, what are you going to do? Leave it on the floor so the family can slip on it and end up in the hospital, too? o_o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Patients don't like to vomit on the floor/themselves/etc. They generally grab the first container they can get their hands on... Wash basin, trash can, etc.

Confused or non-mobile patients? Yes, you will be cleaning vomit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for answering everyone.

Oh gosh, I hope I can handle it. I'll try the breathing through my mouth suggestion. I guess I'll never know how I'd handle it unless I try :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

Yep, if there's a bodily fluid to come out of a person & were in the room when it happens, u better believe it lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

Well, Esme went with the little yellow face spewing vomit so I have to avoid it. :clown: The short answer is yes, nurses have to clean it up.

This was actually one of my biggest fears since seeing someone vomit or cleaning up vomit (including my own) makes we want to vomit...so, I totally understand you concern. As someone already said, breath through your mouth, be quick, and move on. I got over the vomit every time I see vomit phase, so will you! (P.S. I said all this wil 100% seriousness....really!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you work in a facility that has housekeeping or janitorial personnel, they won't clean it up, so that leaves the nurses and nursing assistants. If you are lucky, you can go for years without having this responsibility thrust upon you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Breathing through my mouth doesn't help me, because then I taste it!!!

There are much, much worse things than vomit. I've only done 2 years of nursing school and an externship, and I've already smelled smells that would make a normal person die; I'm looking forward to my next odoriferous adventure! :bugeyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Most of the time, no big deal. Sometimes catches me, usually odor, and I gag badly enough to sometimes stop or start coughing enough to be noticeable. Don't let go of the basin or suction though.

When the smell is really bad, I chew the edge of my tongue.

If the body can produce it, nurses will clean it.:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Anything that comes out of the human body we not only have to clean up, we have to smell, observe, measure, document and possibly collect. Hope that helps :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion