Blood, Guts & Bodily Fluids?

Libby1987 · Jan 21, 2015

I still can get a little gaggy but can deal with most while thinking about lunch (takes A LOT to kill my appetite!)

It helps if I'm doing something, the worst is when I'm in an observation position.

It also helps if I think about it from the patient's perspective, if they're alert and oriented then they're probaly mortified and apologetic and that alone changes my response, in that motherly sort of way.

If it's a gruesome type thing, then again if I'm doing direct care my focus is pulled enough that I can handle it better.

But sometimes I still have to make a face to control the gag reflex when there are accompanying sounds. Hacking and retching get to me.

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 21, 2015

I've worked trauma in the past so the usual blood, guts, shattered bones and stuff really doesn't bother me. These situations are so intense at the time that you really don't have time to think about how gross some of it is. I can pretty much eat a sandwich while packing an abscess. HOWEVER, snot is a whole different thing, lol. Really grosses me out, can't deal with it.

Farawyn · Jan 21, 2015

I like it. Most of it.

Poo is my Achille's Heel.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 21, 2015

There are only two things that I'm not too crazy about... one is the odor of vomit and the other is the odor of C-Diff. Other than that, I'm pretty much good to go and I'm usually able to keep things under control until after I'm done doing what needs to be done. You won't see a whole lot of blood in the wrong places or organs where they shouldn't be unless you're doing 911 or related work (street through emergency surgery) but you generally become desensitized to things you're exposed to quite a bit.

It's because you're human that this happens. I'd worry more if you were already very desensitized when you start work or if you never adjust to it.

I've been a Paramedic for a while and have been desensitized to quite a bit. At this point, if I saw someone who had suffered a degloving of a hand, my first reaction would be "cool!" and "dude, that sucks..." followed by "did any one find the missing skin?" All of that is simply because I've been desensitized to things like this. It also allows me to get to work and "ignore" the injury so that I can properly assess the rest of the person. It's not that I don't care, it's that it just doesn't bother me much, if at all.

Start vomiting or having C-Diff diarrhea and I might have to step out for a minute or to two to regain my composure. Then, as another poster above stated, I get to work in my Dadly way (because I'm a guy).

Libby1987 · Jan 21, 2015

BTW (as I believe you're a prospective nurse), and I think I speak for the majority, blood/guts/bodily fluids is the easiest challenge in nursing these days. Hands down.

I'm not sure if it should be the first question asked or the last when considering nursing..

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2015

I've been a nurse nearly 8 years and I still get a little weak in the knees and gaggy with vomit and sputum. But I'm able to carry on:) the worst was when I was pregnant. I literally had to say, "excuse me!" go vomit, and return to care.

poppycat, ADN, BSN · Jan 21, 2015

I don't mind the bodily fluids that much. What I can't handle is the sound of someone vomitting. If I hear that, I feel like I'm going to join them!

I'm also not really too fond of mucous I spite of the fact that my full time patient has a trach.

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2015

In my former life, I was a rad tech. I got used to vomit, urine and feces because I worked at a level 1 trauma center and we got the drunks, druggies, etc. The only smell I never got used to was burned bodies.

When I started nursing, I found the only other smell i can't stand: GI bleed. The smell clings to you. It's awful I would rather smell c-diff or pseudomonas wounds than GI Bleed.

Farawyn · Jan 21, 2015

The real question is: can you discuss this thread over egg drop soup? That is the mark of a TRUE nurse!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 21, 2015

I was eating breakfast at the time I originally posted in this thread. GI Bleeds definitely have a certain odor...

Farawyn · Jan 21, 2015

C-diff is the worst. I remember saying to a 1st year resident once that we should culture the stool because it smelled C-diffy. He looked at me like I had 2 heads.