my first poop/ nasty experience... just wanna share

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

Ok...

I was assign a client c/ esophageal cancer, liver disfunctions, obese, pej tube, acute/chronical renal failure and so on...

Well... i got in the room early am, and OMG that room stunk so bad, but no like poop, or that "disease" smell, it was a nasty, sweaty, dry lack of hygiene smell...

so i washed my hands, put my gloves on... and took my vitals, then came back to gime him a partial bad bath and told him to wash his genitals, well... as soon as the pct started it, what a stench :barf02:

so i just kept on handing him new wash cloths, and they were coming back full of loose dead skin, and that smell was terrible!!!!

I almost vomited!

.... well we got over that part, made the bed, changed him, and everything was better... none had given him a bath in the longest!!! and he had poop under the nails:barf02:!!!

after everything set up, a colleague came and asked me for help doing peri care on a man, since it was her first time, so i went over there and washed my hands, got my gloves on....

the room was so warm it was like 90 in there, no kidding! then we got him ready, all supplies and it all, then i went to lift his testicles that were stuck on the midle (close to his knees) of his legs, and i was talking to him and my frind... when i lifted it, surprise :D i just noticed that cloud of smell right up my nose... and my hands were full of poop since he had poop on the back of his testicles...:barf02:

well, i turned around real quick, since i dod not want to make a face!!!! took a deep breath, told my friend change of plans, let me go get supplies!!!!

the smell was nasty, real nasty, and warm!!!!

so i got back on the room with everything, and we cleaned him, changed the bed, and rotated him... OMG there was so much poop!!! yuck!

we were able to keep it down c/ a straight face... but it was chalenging!

we got it all done, and we had to put ointment on him since he was getting sore, and stage 1 pressure wounds, we finished it up, and even gave him a back rub!!!

it was a great experience since it was the first time for both of us, and we did such a fine job... and i did not through up...!!!!

blah, vicks on my pocket for next time!

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Good Job!! This is what I think I am dreading the most, the poop. But I know it is part of the job

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I start my nursing classes this fall and I have to say that I am so SCARED:bluecry1: of the POOP!!!!!!!!!!! Good job on today!

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Good job! I had similar situations in my last rotation. Vicks really does work well...I used it many times.

For those of you scared of the poop - try not to be. It's most certainly not pleasant, but it's something that you have to do and you just have to keep in mind that if the patient had their way, you would not be cleaning up their poop either. It's not a pleasant situation for either of you, but it is your job to make sure that the patient is comfortable and clean and safe. Keep that on the brain when you are having to clean it up....it doesn't do anything for the smell (that's what the Vicks is for), but it helps with the mental aspect. :nurse:

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Specializes in LTC.

You will get to the point where it won't bother you a bit, and it will come sooner than you think.

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I'm glad you didn't make a face. When I was in a clinical for CNA classes I was alone with another student. We were changing a patient and that student looked at her and said, "Well, you really stink, honey". Tears started welling up in our patient's eyes. It was one of the most terrible things I've ever seen. That student did not pass the class because she had been doing that all over the facility and a few RNs turned her in. I will never forget the look on that patient's 85 year old face. Makes tears well to my eyes to this day.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
I'm glad you didn't make a face. When I was in a clinical for CNA classes I was alone with another student. We were changing a patient and that student looked at her and said, "Well, you really stink, honey". Tears started welling up in our patient's eyes. It was one of the most terrible things I've ever seen. That student did not pass the class because she had been doing that all over the facility and a few RNs turned her in. I will never forget the look on that patient's 85 year old face. Makes tears well to my eyes to this day.

Wow! That brought tears to my eyes. I think of my sweet mother-in-law in LTC during final stages of alzheimers. She was the sweetest person I have EVER known and I would hate for someone to hurt her like that.

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Specializes in Triage, MedSurg, MomBaby, Peds, HH.

From Calebmommy:

We were changing a patient and that student looked at her and said, "Well, you really stink, honey". Tears started welling up in our patient's eyes. ...Makes tears well to my eyes to this day."

Wow! That brought tears to my eyes. I think of my sweet mother-in-law in LTC during final stages of alzheimers. She was the sweetest person I have EVER known and I would hate for someone to hurt her like that.

I had the exact same reaction. That's why we're there, because these folks for one reason or another can't do for themselves. Always, I think of my own grandmothers in nursing homes when I'm dealing with patients' private or painful parts, and hope that another nurse is out there doing the same for my family.

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Specializes in Triage, MedSurg, MomBaby, Peds, HH.

To the OP:

Great job on tough work!

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Specializes in LTC.

Welcome to NURSING !

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

Note to self: put vicks on list for nursing school.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

This is my one worry as well, well ok I have lots of worries but I think that is normal. But I have a VERY sensitive nose. People are always surprised because I will smell something no one else can far away. With the smells of especially vomit I start immediately gagging. I have 4 kids, so I have had to deal with vomit and the runs but it's very hard with the gagging instinct. It's not the actually poop and vomit that gets to me, just the smell.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I enjoy cleaning it up but doesn't make me walk out saying I can't do this.

I think I will for sure do the Vicks thing. I don't want my sensitive nose to keep me from being a nurse.

Do you just put a little on before you go into the room if you know their is going to be a clean up? Or when do you put it on if you don't find out until after it's to late and you are already their? Obviously you don't want to do it infront of the Pt and make them feel bad.

To the OP, I am glad you made it through :D

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