First Clinical Experience

[vtrice1988]

So today from 645am-12pm I worked my first clinical in a Nursing Home. I did better than I thought I would. However, I am extremely embarrassed that I was giving a bed bath and the smell of this particular patient almost made me throw up. I'm pertty much mortified. Do you get used to the smell or is there any advice out there that anyone can give me. Stuff like that normally doesnt bother me, and I am not sure what was up with this particular experience. Sorry for rambling on and complaing. I just needed to get it out.

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

Breathe through your mouth? haha stuff gets pretty gross sometimes, but I think that we all just get used to it. Look at all the nurses that can wipe up BM wash their hands and then 2 minutes later see chocolate at the nurses station and have no problem gobbling it up :)

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

You get used to things with time. Just try not to make faces in front of the patient. They are aware of these things too, you know. When I was working as a PCNA I had a patient with a colostomy with tons of output + a GI bleed on top of it. I had to empty that thing several times/shift and my god, it smelled awful. I had the most disgusted look on my face one time and didn't even realize it...I horrible because I looked at the patient and they were staring right at me! I apologized for my actions, and they were okay with it...I just felt so bad.

There are tricks to get past bad smells...some suggest breathing with your mouth open. This can sometimes work...but I tried it with the patient I mentioned above and I had the taste of the smell in my mouth Others suggest using the Vicks Vapor Rub trick to put under your nose. You can also do the same with a mask. There was once a patient who was on droplet and contact precautions and didn't smell the greatest, either (refused to bathe!) Inside the mask I put a little dab of Vicks and it helped.

[Ashley_Nurse]

I will remember the Vicks trick when I start clinicals. I appreciate reading all the advice! I don't start clinicals for another two months, but I read on this website for several hours everyday to prepare myself.