Where do I begin? I am 42 and have a good paying job as a letter carrier.
The only problem, I absolutely hate being a letter carrier. The weather is far to challenging and I spend every day virtually alone. There is very little human contact. The hardest part is that the job is absolutely mind numbingly boring.
That is why a year ago I thought about becoming a nurse. I started attending evening classes and have completed all of the science pre reqs with a 3.65 GPA.
Because I already have a BS in Bus. Admin I was eligible to apply to the Accelerated BS to BSN program at Seton Hall. This was all good while I was dreaming but now the time to decide as arrived. I received my letter of acceptance and classes start in Sept. The problem is I have to quit my job at the Post Office in order to attend. Needless to say, I'm having the am I making the right decision jitters. I am not concerned with the classroom work too much, although I know it will be hard I think I can overcome it. What really has me worried (and I guess I'm the only one cause I haven't seen any other posts about it) is do you get use to dealing with naked strangers? I don't have any point of reference for this in my life. I can't imagine I would be the only person who would think of this as potentially embarrassing. Do you get use to inserting catheters? I would hate to go from a boring job to an embarrassing job. Help:imbar
Great thread. I'm really, REALLY uncomfortable with seeing people naked too.
It feels like you're making them so vulnerable and I hate that!
I think I'm really scared of dealing with naked people, especially patients whom I like, because I feel like I'm degrading them and that they might guess this. Like, I don't think the people's bodies are beautiful or anything and most of the times think people's bodies are really ugly-looking and I feel bad that I think so disrespectfully? Degradingly? of someone's body, even if I don't show it. Like, if anyone knew that I thought they were ugly or that their body disgusts me, they wouldn't take off their clothing for me to think that theiy were ugly, so why should they trust me enough to do so? Like, I don't deserve that they're trusting me to think that they're bodies are basically beautiful and unique.
I really have issues with this. Like, I dont know what to do. I try to objectify everybody's body into one?
On the other hand, then, there are those people that are so happy to take off their clothes for you because they know it embarrasses you and upstes you so much and they want to make fun of you and torment you (oooohhh, I dont feel bad for these people....ohhhhh, I hate them....)
Just imagine that if nudity were the norm, how uncomfortable you would be bathing a person who was dressed
My own fear of being able to provide personal care to another person was a major factor in not pursuing nursing sooner. An almost accidental situation, where I helped a nurse aide clean up my counseling client (client died later that day) convinced me I could do it, and feel very good about doing it.
Now that I've learned to catheterize (another fear I got over), I'm pretty good at that too. My patients even tell me that they barely felt it.
I guess my biggest concern now is that I will cause pain where none had to be caused. Interestingly, the more confidence I get, the surer my touch, the less discomfort.
Where do I begin? I am 42 and have a good paying job as a letter carrier.
The only problem, I absolutely hate being a letter carrier. The weather is far to challenging and I spend every day virtually alone. There is very little human contact. The hardest part is that the job is absolutely mind numbingly boring.
That is why a year ago I thought about becoming a nurse. I started attending evening classes and have completed all of the science pre reqs with a 3.65 GPA.
Because I already have a BS in Bus. Admin I was eligible to apply to the Accelerated BS to BSN program at Seton Hall. This was all good while I was dreaming but now the time to decide as arrived. I received my letter of acceptance and classes start in Sept. The problem is I have to quit my job at the Post Office in order to attend. Needless to say, I'm having the am I making the right decision jitters. I am not concerned with the classroom work too much, although I know it will be hard I think I can overcome it. What really has me worried (and I guess I'm the only one cause I haven't seen any other posts about it) is do you get use to dealing with naked strangers? I don't have any point of reference for this in my life. I can't imagine I would be the only person who would think of this as potentially embarrassing. Do you get use to inserting catheters? I would hate to go from a boring job to an embarrassing job. Help:imbar
It's rare to stand back and view a total naked human. However, you will see every body part at fairly often the entire body completely naked. You will be up close and personal.
It is kind of embarrassing at first but after awhile you will realize "they all look alike" and "everybody has "them." It won't take long!
I've been a nurse for over 30 years. I've seen so many naked humans I couldn't begin to count them and ya know what?! They are all the same! Some bigger, some wrinkled, some crooked, some just about every adjective you can think of but bottom line, they are all the same and none are impressive.
Yes you do get used to it. I get amazed how immodest patients are, they just spread um. I'm amazed how many guys just whip it out and start using the urinal while I'm assessing them.
Yes you do get used to it. I get amazed how immodest patients are, they just spread um. I'm amazed how many guys just whip it out and start using the urinal while I'm assessing them.
Specializes in M/S, Onc, PCU, ER, ICU, Nsg Sup., Neuro.
I'm fine with the nudity.
Think the toughest part for me will be causing another pain (tough needle sticks, cath's, etc.). And doing so to babies and children will definitely ratch it up several notches.
Would love to hear experienced folks' suggestions on how to most successfully get over my little preoccupation about the above. Know I'll be fine when the time comes, but help me make it easier. Thanks!
Larry,
I have been an RN for over 20 yrs and am very good at a lot of the "painful things" we have to do to babies and kids. I had a few real problems when I first went into the ER(been at it there over 6 yrs now), like hearing babies cry in my sleep but it gets better with experience. Now I go out with my wife sometimes to resturants and she will hear a baby cry and comment but I don't even hear them sometimes. I am at a point now where I rarely miss on babies and kids now. The first secret is in the holding on the pt(kids can be tougher because they can squirm in places and ways you wouldn't believe), but find staff you work with who are good at holding or papoose them either with sheets(kiddie burritos) or the velcro papooses that are available. Second secret I have, is really find that right vein prior to the stick, rub it up and make sure exactly where it is(I do and memorize it location so when drawing blood culuters I don't have to touch the site again after cleaning with betadine) and then do it!!!! Relax and take a deep breath, know in your mind what you are doing is for the good of your pt(whether it be baby or child). If you have difficulty with find veins at first you may need a light(we have a very good transilluminator light that will shine up through the hands of babies and show exactly where the veins are and how they are running) and always go for ones that look long enough for your catheter. I have been having a lot of success with pedi/baby antecubital sites as well. I also have big hands and have gotten good at holding little hands on babies and getting the IV's in without much problem. I am also a Reiki practitioner(use of Universal Energy for healing) and have found it works very on babies and kids, I can use my hands to put babies to sleep for LP"s(spinal taps) and have had my docs been able to do them without lidocaine and without waking up the babies. But just hang in there, you can get very good at these things too. Hope this helps and wish you luck---Paul :chuckle :) :balloons:
Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.
I can see how this might bother you at first too.
You really do get used to it after a while. As a matter of fact, it actually kind of takes the fun out of nudity for me. At this point, I'm just like "I've seen one of those already....unless you can do a trick with yours, I'm not impressed"! LOL :chuckle
You really do get used to it after a while. As a matter of fact, it actually kind of takes the fun out of nudity for me. At this point, I'm just like "I've seen one of those already....unless you can do a trick with yours, I'm not impressed"! LOL :chuckle
Sounds like a potential Arbor Mist commercial -- they could air it during next year's Superbowl.
teeituptom, BSN, RN
4,283 Posts
Just imagine that if nudity were the norm, how uncomfortable you would be bathing a person who was dressed