Ever Gag or Vimit While Doing the Job?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone...I am currently a pre-nursing student who cant wait to begin a nurse...but I have one BIG hurdle to get over....my weak somach

This may sound dumb but I was just wondering if during nursing school or even on the job did you ever gag in front of anyone and they saw you or actually vomit? That is my BIGGEST fear right now LOL Because I know I am going to be gagging my like crazy especially in the beginning until I get used to the gross stuff and was wondering if this is a problems other may have had

Was he at home or in a hospital or other facility? I'm curious.

What on earth was wrong with that young man?

hospice facility

osteosarcoma w/mets to peritoneum (as well as lungs, liver, intestines, lymphs)

leslie

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I'm starting nursing school in two weeks (YAY!) after a two and a half year wait. I'm doing a mid-life career change and thought I'd use that wait time to acclimate to the world of medicine, so I've been working as a phlebotomist at one of the local hospitals. The experience of working directly with patients in a wide variety of conditions and interacting with nursing staff has been invaluable.

However, this experience has also proved to me that even I, the world's biggest vomitphobe, can be cured of my vomit phobia. I have gone to draw blood and patients have either been actively vomiting or have vomited shortly after I have entered the room. At first I would get queasy and a little gaggy, but I never actually lost it myself.

The true test came a couple weeks ago. I got paged to do a super-stat draw on a guy on the cardiac unit that was having an active MI. I was halfway through the several tubes I was drawing when the patient gave me a funny look and proceeded to projectile hurl thick, chunky reddish-orange vomit with remnants of semi-digested pasta all over the front of my lab coat. I calmly completed the blood draw while one of the RNs in the room brought me a pile of towels.

It didn't exactly make my day, but the point is that it hardly even phased me. After I tubed his blood to the lab I had a fresh set of scrubs tubed up to the floor and went and took a good, hot, 10 minute shower in the nurses' locker room. I then went to break and ate the penne pasta in marinara sauce I brought for lunch.

Yes, you CAN overcome your vomit phobia! :-)

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I'm starting nursing school in two weeks (YAY!) after a two and a half year wait. I'm doing a mid-life career change and thought I'd use that wait time to acclimate to the world of medicine, so I've been working as a phlebotomist at one of the local hospitals. The experience of working directly with patients in a wide variety of conditions and interacting with nursing staff has been invaluable.

However, this experience has also proved to me that even I, the world's biggest vomitphobe, can be cured of my vomit phobia. I have gone to draw blood and patients have either been actively vomiting or have vomited shortly after I have entered the room. At first I would get queasy and a little gaggy, but I never actually lost it myself.

The true test came a couple weeks ago. I got paged to do a super-stat draw on a guy on the cardiac unit that was having an active MI. I was halfway through the several tubes I was drawing when the patient gave me a funny look and proceeded to projectile hurl thick, chunky reddish-orange vomit with remnants of semi-digested pasta all over the front of my lab coat. I calmly completed the blood draw while one of the RNs in the room brought me a pile of towels.

It didn't exactly make my day, but the point is that it hardly even phased me. After I tubed his blood to the lab I had a fresh set of scrubs tubed up to the floor and went and took a good, hot, 10 minute shower in the nurses' locker room. I then went to break and ate the penne pasta in marinara sauce I brought for lunch.

Yes, you CAN overcome your vomit phobia! :-)

The lunch part makes your story even more impressive...WOW! :bowingpur

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.
I'm starting nursing school in two weeks (YAY!) after a two and a half year wait. I'm doing a mid-life career change and thought I'd use that wait time to acclimate to the world of medicine, so I've been working as a phlebotomist at one of the local hospitals. The experience of working directly with patients in a wide variety of conditions and interacting with nursing staff has been invaluable.

However, this experience has also proved to me that even I, the world's biggest vomitphobe, can be cured of my vomit phobia. I have gone to draw blood and patients have either been actively vomiting or have vomited shortly after I have entered the room. At first I would get queasy and a little gaggy, but I never actually lost it myself.

The true test came a couple weeks ago. I got paged to do a super-stat draw on a guy on the cardiac unit that was having an active MI. I was halfway through the several tubes I was drawing when the patient gave me a funny look and proceeded to projectile hurl thick, chunky reddish-orange vomit with remnants of semi-digested pasta all over the front of my lab coat. I calmly completed the blood draw while one of the RNs in the room brought me a pile of towels.

It didn't exactly make my day, but the point is that it hardly even phased me. After I tubed his blood to the lab I had a fresh set of scrubs tubed up to the floor and went and took a good, hot, 10 minute shower in the nurses' locker room. I then went to break and ate the penne pasta in marinara sauce I brought for lunch.

Yes, you CAN overcome your vomit phobia! :-)

Wow that IS impressive! I probably would've finished the blood draw because the pt was so sick but after that all bets would be off and I probably would never get near marinara sauce again.:bow:

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I gagged once while I was guiac-ing a stool, and the pt didn't have a frank GI bleed or anything. But I was about 7 weeks pregnant and that made all the difference in the world. The CNA & I were changing her diaper and got the stool sample for the card....and as I did that I gagged. I felt so bad, apologized and explained to her that I was pregnant. She was very nice about it.

Funny, though, I've guaiced a thousand stools since then and none of them have bothered me in the least. Only one other time I've gagged, and it was with a frank GI bleed. But it happens. You just move forward.

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Specializes in ER, ICU,.

Had a trach pt once that started coughing up his tumor. Was called to the room stat, along with an ICU RN. Blood was everywhere. on the floor, wall, tv...etc...LOOKED LIKE A MURDER SCENE!!

The RN and I were trying to deal with the dying pt....you know...maintianing an airway...PULSE

ATLEAST 15 people came in and asked us what we needed.....GOWN, MASK, TOWELS, SX.... The only thing...noone ever came back in.

When it was all over...we noticed everyong standing in the hall had on GOWNS, MASKS, GLOVES!! AND GARBAGE CANS FULL OF PUKE EVERYWHERE!!!

WE NEVER GOT OUR GOWNS AND MASKS!!!:eek:

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