First day if clinicals

pnkgirl25 · Dec 25, 2012

Don't feel bad. Same thing happened to me only it was my last week of clinical and I actually did throw up... o_0 luckly the patient laughed about it but all the nurses laughed at me and nick named me upchuck girl. One nurse was nice enough to share a secret. A dabb of Vicks on your upper lip before a change does wonders. I live by this secret now and always keep a jar in my bag. Haven't thrown up since.

sucess2012 · Dec 25, 2012

Thank you so much . I will give that a try.

pnkgirl25 · Dec 25, 2012

So my first clincals for my Cna class and everything was going well until one patients. The patient had an massive amount of poop in the diaper and it smelled really bad. I almost threw up if it wasn't for the help of my partner I would have. I felt so bad and I tried really hard to help the patient but I could not handle it. Now I am concerned about the next time I am in a situation like this . I really want to be a Cna on my road to nurseing but I dnt know if I can handle it. Is this a bad sign? Any tips on how to deal with this situation?

No problem

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 25, 2012

That is something that we all have to deal with during our careers in nursing. It is something that we all have to do, cleanup patients after they make a bit of a mess. Using Vicks or something similar to it is a good help at first. Eventually, you do get used to the smell, and at times you will come to notice differences in odors between patients that have different types of bowel problems. Some odors are just so distinctive that you can tell right away, without any labs, that the patient has a particular problem...

In my case, I don't have that same reaction to bowel odors, but there are certain odors that do cause me to get quite nauseous. The main thing is, don't worry too much about it, this is something that happens to all of us at some point in our careers, if not a lot. You just have to figure out how to mask the odor so that it doesn't trigger nausea or vomiting.

When it comes to that particular type of odor, the only thing that I have found that really truly made me rather impervious to bowel odors was having a child. Change enough diapers, especially after the kids start eating regular food, and eventually that stuff will no longer bother you much. Until I became a Dad, I could not fathom how my wife could get used to changing diapers on a daily basis (she works in child care) and now all I know.

Mewsin · Dec 25, 2012

If I know I am going into a room that is going to be bad, I will mask and put a tea bag in my mask. All you can smell is tea.

loriangel14, RN · Dec 25, 2012

If find it's one of those things that you get used to. We are not allowed to wear masks because of BMs that smell bad. It makes the patient feel embarrassed.

Mewsin · Dec 26, 2012

If find it's one of those things that you get used to. We are not allowed to wear masks because of BMs that smell bad. It makes the patient feel embarrassed.

We wear masks as PPE, we don't take chances with explosive diarreah.

loriangel14, RN · Dec 26, 2012

We wear masks as PPE, we don't take chances with explosive diarreah.

Well yeah that would be different.We aren't supposed to use it just for smells.

JustLikeYou87 · Dec 26, 2012

I think that we all have been in situations where we almost/actually did vomit. You will get use to the smell (sometimes you'll be like whoa there!) But, then again no ones BM smells like potpourri. Also, another thing make sure after placing the brief in the bag tie it. That way it the smell won't linger while you finish dressing the resident. Be mindful of your facial expressions though because residents are just as easily embarrassed. So just take a deep breathe and you'll be fine!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 26, 2012

If find it's one of those things that you get used to. We are not allowed to wear masks because of BMs that smell bad. It makes the patient feelYou embarrassed.

You can also put a little bit of Vicks under your nose, just a light smear, and it'll look like a little shiny spot under there. It won't hide the application like a mask will, but it hopefully will reduce the "power" of the odor that you face.

Now if it's C. diff... don't take any chances with that stuff. It's got a distinctive odor, and if you smell it, put on a mask, gown & glove, etc... and whip out the Vicks to blot out the smell. And NEVER forget to wash your hands well afterwards. Alcohol foam won't kill those spores.