Flying juices

psu_213, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2012

There is another recent thread about cleaning up vomit...I suggest you go there for more info. As for the splashing issue...yes it happens (more and less often depending on where you are working). If you suspect that splashing of fluids is likely, wear more PPE (gown, mask, goggles, etc...)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2012

And you are becoming a nurse?

Rick68fl · Mar 4, 2012

I got a bedpan filled with urine dumped on my foot yesterday, does that count?

Seriously though, you will get splashed. Count on it happening.

If you anticipate it happening, wear a mask, gown, eye shield, booties, etc.

When it happens unexpectedly, get grossed out a little, go wash it off, and get back to work like the rest of us do. :icon_roll

Kendel.G · Mar 5, 2012

I was worried about this in addition to how I would react to seeing gaping wounds, private parts (lol), poop, vomit, etc. I shadowed a 12hr shift on friday and saw it all. For me, my brain totally kicked in to another mode of processing information. At home I probably would have gagged, at the hospital I stood, ready to help wherever needed. Your brain just knows you're helping and that's that.

mofomeat · Mar 5, 2012

I see you've never had dogs before, either.

My biggest fear of being vomited on or seeing someone's vomit is that for some odd reason, I find barfing to be hilarious. If someone gakks up on me I might react by laughing hysterically. I know that that's not normal, and probably messed up in some way, but that's the problem I'll have.

Otherwise, I've got a pretty good feeling that most of this stuff won't bother me. I'd prefer to not get it near my eyes or mouth, but in a surprise barf attack, I understand it is a possibility. Accidents happen, and you can't blame sick patients if they're just sick.

nguyency77, CNA · Mar 5, 2012

At home I probably would have gagged, at the hospital I stood, ready to help wherever needed. Your brain just knows you're helping and that's that.

I'm so proud of you! I see you got over it :)

Back on topic:

Wear goggles. Just be wary of offending a patient if you do and they don't throw up.

But if you find after a while that you really can't get over it, maybe patient care isn't for you? I don't know if it's just me, but as a CNA I appreciate nurses who aren't going, "EWWWW IS THIS POOP/VOMIT/BLOOD/URINE? Can you wipe it for me? I kind of have this thing against poop/vomit/blood/urine."

I always wonder how they survived clinicals. :banghead:

mofomeat · Mar 6, 2012

as a CNA I appreciate nurses who aren't going, "EWWWW IS THIS POOP/VOMIT/BLOOD/URINE? Can you wipe it for me? I kind of have this thing against poop/vomit/blood/urine."
I always wonder how they survived clinicals.

Does this actually happen?

Is it brash of me to say that they don't belong in Nursing if they are grossed out by bodily fluids? Are they really grossed out, or are they just dumping the '**** work' onto the CNA?

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Mar 6, 2012

I had an amniotic sac rupture right onto my head once. It was crazy, and oddly an experience I remember fondly- almost like I was being baptized!

Anyway, yes you will be splashed! Luckily I have never had any body fluids (besides the aforementioned amniotic fluid) make it onto my face. I would venture to guess that it would be very rare for anything to actually get on your face. And even if it does get on/near your mouth, the likelihood of any sort of transmission (save c. dif, maybe?) is pretty darn low.

ProudStudent · Mar 6, 2012

If you're using your PPE correctly, you will be better protected against risk of contamination. Throughout your career, you're bound to come in contact with some kind of fluid or excretion and you'll have to be prepared. My biggest fear is offending the patient with looks of disgust or even gagging.

karamarie91 · Mar 6, 2012

I see you've never had dogs before, either.
My biggest fear of being vomited on or seeing someone's vomit is that for some odd reason, I find barfing to be hilarious. If someone gakks up on me I might react by laughing hysterically. I know that that's not normal, and probably messed up in some way, but that's the problem I'll have.
Otherwise, I've got a pretty good feeling that most of this stuff won't bother me. I'd prefer to not get it near my eyes or mouth, but in a surprise barf attack, I understand it is a possibility. Accidents happen, and you can't blame sick patients if they're just sick.

Yesterday, I found out that's my problem too! This new admission came on the floor barfing so much and I just was so in awe I started silent laughing..Her barfs were so loud, another tech had to shut the door to her room.

So yea, we all have our issues.lol

mofomeat · Mar 7, 2012

Yesterday, I found out that's my problem too! This new admission came on the floor barfing so much and I just was so in awe I started silent laughing..Her barfs were so loud, another tech had to shut the door to her room.
So yea, we all have our issues.lol

Obviously the issue is to NOT make the patient feel any worse than they already do.

Just today, a co-worker was telling me about his ER experience after an automobile accident. He barfed on the nurse and then peed on the doctor as he was being cathed. I could tell that he was really embarrassed about this, even 15 years later. He said that he was trying to mumble "sorry" about all that, and they were all 'humoring' him by saying "it's ok".

I tried to reassure him that doctors and nurses get hit with this stuff daily, and it's no different to them than the usual stuff he and I deal with at work.

Or at least I hope that's the case.

That said, I learned today about "fungating", and in regards to my previous post(s) about being confident about the gross things that Nurses deal with, I suppose I should admit that I've never encountered a fungating tumor before. So maybe I'm being overconfident.