Being an RN is there a lot of blood and guts???

1. Hey I'm taking prereques to join the RN program, but everytime I tell someone I'm going to be an RN they tell me that it's all blood and guts. I know certain fields like ER or surgery is a lot of blood, but are there certain fields where there's not so much blood. What do you call those departments.. I'm not big on seeing compound fractures or really crazy lacirations. But I really do want to help people get better..
   
   Thanks,
   
   RJ
2. 

   About SexyRN2Be

   Joined: Sep '08; Posts: 7

   20 Comments

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3. 
   May 14, '09

   Occupation: SRNA Specialty: 5 year(s) of experience in Pulmonary, MICU ; From: US ; Joined: Apr '09; Posts: 276; Likes: 385

   Certain areas are more predisposed to "blood and guts" for sure. ER, Surgical ICU are going to be the big ones, as will be post-operative floors (surgery floors) where you will do a lot of wound care and empty drains that will contain possibly a lot of blood. For outpatient, Dialysis deals with a lot of blood.
   
   Areas you won't see as much blood..standard Med/Surg floors tend to have less. Medical ICU (if there is a separate surgical ICU) will have less blood. Pediatrics. Lots of outpatient choices as well. Pain Management, Cardiac Clinics. There is also home health.
   
   But make no mistake, very few options are blood-free. Even in an outpatient setting you will probably have to do blood draws and/or start IV's. The difference is whether the blood is in a controlled area (like in a syringe/vacutainer/lab vial) or in an uncontrolled area (leaking out of the patient onto the bed/floor profusely). If you have a serious aversion to blood and/or other body fluids, nursing is probably not for you.
4. 
   May 14, '09

   Occupation: dialysis Specialty: dialysis (mostly) some L&D, Rehab/LTC ; From: US ; Joined: Jun '08; Posts: 355; Likes: 630

   Only when having to deal with management
5. 
   May 14, '09

   Joined: May '08; Posts: 120; Likes: 236

   yes, there certainly is a lot of blood involved in nursing. as the first post noted - there are areas where there isn't as much potential for bloody messes, but you do have to try to get used to it. my mom was aloways amazed that i went into nursing 30 yrs. ago, because as a child i got hysterical if i saw blood. once you get into nursing schhol, you start to learn the physiology - ie. the "mechanics" of the human body. you learn to appreciate this, & to look past the "blood & guts", & realize this person needs your help! i also was a paramedic for 12 years, & saw a lot worse than sometimes makes it into the er! thank god for post-trauma counselling teams. so, once you get out of nursing school, you may feel differently. if not, as noted previously, try those options, as well as mental health, physicians' offices, school nursing, elder care (a growing need!). good luck in your decision. by the way, if you do decide to go to nursing school, be sure to find a place to sit down quickly if you do begin to feel 'woozy'....i've had my share of students go down on the floor! (i'm an or nurse).
6. 
   May 14, '09

   Joined: Aug '03; Posts: 1,284; Likes: 358

   I work in psych. All our pts are medically stable, no blood (unless some one falls or gets hit by another pt.) or guts in our dept.
7. 
   May 14, '09

   Occupation: RN Specialty: 13 year(s) of experience in ICU ; From: US ; Joined: Oct '06; Posts: 1,261; Likes: 1,702

   worse than blood is,,,,, body grease. ... and crusty cracks,, need I go on?
8. 
   May 14, '09

   Occupation: RN floor nurse, Ortho/Neuro floor Specialty: 16 year(s) of experience in Nursing Home, Dementia units, & Hospital ; From: US ; Joined: Feb '07; Posts: 61; Likes: 39

   I work on a med/surg floor.....it's more poo and pee. Still body fluids and a lot more stinky.
9. 
   May 14, '09

   Joined: Mar '08; Posts: 10; Likes: 15

   Blood and guts, not so much (unless in specialty areas as others have mentioned). Even worse- lots of vomit, diarrhea, sputum, pus, BODY ODOR, cheesy feet/skin folds/private areas (from people that are NOT bedbound and able to take a shower!)- these are the things that will make u gag
10. 
    May 14, '09

    Joined: Sep '08; Posts: 7

    Thank you all for your feedback, I dont hate blood nor does it make me sick to see, but I'd prefer not to really see the inside of someone body for long periods of times. I can handle giving shots, IV, taking care of wounds, but some of the more gorey complex things to do, is not on the top of my list...
11. 
    May 14, '09

    Occupation: School Nurse Specialty: 8 year(s) of experience in School Nursing ; From: US ; Joined: Dec '08; Posts: 2,206; Likes: 3,637

    Keep in mind that even in LTC or Med/Surg it is possible to see some really bad wounds, especially pressure wounds. In NS I saw a pressure ulcer on a patient's rear that was so big you could fit your fist in it - blech.
    
    If you are like myself and many nurses I know, you learn to look past the gross and focus on the patient. I don't get grossed out much anymore. Check out this thread and see if you can stomach it to get an idea, but keep in mind that MOST days are not like that! https://allnurses.com/nursing-humor-...ost-20151.html
12. 
    May 14, '09

    Specialty: 14 year(s) of experience ; From: US ; Joined: Dec '06; Posts: 4,090; Likes: 8,702

    I've seen some uh, interesting things in my years in Surgical ICU.
    You probably would want to steer clear of Burns too.
13. 
    May 14, '09

    Occupation: Behavioral Health Specialty: 20+ year(s) of experience in Gero Psych, Ortho Rebab, LTC, Psych ; From: US ; Joined: Apr '08; Posts: 1,691; Likes: 1,605

    Quote from soulofme

    Only when having to deal with management

    
    Tee Hee! LMAO
14. 
    May 14, '09

    Joined: May '06; Posts: 1,288; Likes: 940

    Things that I would have thought would have totally grossed me out prior to becoming a nurse are just all in a day's work now...your mindset really changes from responding with "THAT'S GROSS!! to "What can I do to fix this?"

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