Terrified of vomit! HELP!!

freesia29, ASN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

I am hoping this get's better too! As I cannot stand the smell of vomit either.....I did read someone else here that some nurses use Vick's Vaporub under their noses if they know it's going to be smelly.....

sunnycalifRN · Nov 18, 2009

Well, you will either get used to it or you should consider another career. Vomit, sputum, feces, blood, decub ulcers are all rather unpleasant things that you will encounter but "get used to".

Flare, ASN, BSN · Nov 18, 2009

We all have our thing that grosses us out - and it's fine -but you still need to work around your issues. I know nurses that hear/see puking and want to join in - they usually just take a quick step back, collect themselves and keep working.

It's all a mindset. I try to think of all the nasty stuff that we encounter as "just another fluid" - pass me some gloves and make way to the sink immediately when done.

karli · Nov 18, 2009

DO NOT worry about it, the nurse may have weakness, the one you disgust me makes you less NURSE NOT, JUST BE PATIENT YOU PRACTICE help address those aspects.

LUCK

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/terrified-vomit-help-439808.html

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

i'm thinking that you will eventually develop a tolerance for smelly things. it will come with experience. i loved when i was in school . i would lunch with other student nurses and we talked about the most disgusting things over lunch. it was great ! it pretty much taught me how to handle gross situations. good luck to you !

praiser :heartbeat

cheska_rn, ASN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

I am with you! I start the program in January (clinicals in February), and I have a weak stomach as well.

However, I recently got to spend the day in the Medical Examiner's office in Detroit, and watched 7 autopsies, and let me tell ya- the smell was HORRENDOUS!!! I managed not to upchuck my pop-tart a la diet coke, but it wasn't easy. I just tried not to breath too deeply.

The ME told us (the students) that the Vics doesn't work, and that it just opens your nasal passages more and you can smell it even more. However, if I had some Vics, I would have tried it.

Vomit is a huge yuck for me, as well as feces. I use to violently gag as I cleaned up dog doo or puke, but now I'm trying to grow a stronger stomach so I kind of do a 'mind over matter' thing, and think about something else the whole time. It seems to be helping.

Good luck to you (and me). I know we can overcome it if we try!

braeburn · Nov 18, 2009

Do some volunteer work in an environment where the smells and sights are unpleasant. A few days in an animal shelter... some volunteering at a nursing home... hospitals... not only will you expose and desensitize yourself to these things but you will also get to know people and possibly have your foot in the door by the time you are ready.

Cuezee2 · Nov 18, 2009

I'll be going into my third semester of clinicals in the Spring, and what I have found is that sometimes you do better in certain situations than you thought you would do. At least that is the case for me. And then there are the situations where you never even thought about having an issue with and it surprises you when you have a reaction. I have also found that you can usually excuse yourself from a situation for a moment (assuming it is not life threatening) and then go back. If you have a pt that vomits all over (like I had two weeks ago) and it starts to get to you, let the pt know that you are going to go get a few more towels, or a new gown, or a wash basin (or whatever) and then step out and compose yourself for a moment. You obviously can't stay out too long, but going back in knowing what to expect sometimes helps.

Also remind yourself that the pt doesn't want to be in the situation they are in, and if they were capable, they would most likely take care of it themselves (I don't know...that helps me a bit).

Like I said, you may just surprise yourself with what you can tolerate when you are actually in the situation, especially when you are wearing that uniform that denotes you as a "professional".

Good luck with starting clinicals next semester!!

Tait, MSN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

I have almost thrown up several times when a patient has yakked in front of me, however I can most always handle vomit over respiratory secretions.

You will learn to deal with it.

Best of luck!

Tait

Lacie, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

I have been an active RN for over 28 years and to be honest - Someone vomiting still gets to me to this day!! I'm not saying you ever overcome it but you do learn how to deal with it. I keep a mask handy and yes I do keep a small container of "Vicks". Just hearing someone gag I do. I've worked in Critical Care, Burns, and Dialysis so seen and heard alot of vomiting and gagging. I still get through it and that doesnt mean I've havent stood there holding the basin at arms length, turning my head with the other hand over my mouth. It happens. Weird I can tolerate anything else but that. Most other staff members know it bothers me but they know I dont run from it so in the end while I'm wiping the sweat of my brow they are laughing.

rnjls · Nov 18, 2009

I'm one of those people that has a sympathetic gag reflex so when someone is vomiting, I feel like I need to too. In fact, a lot of times when my kids were vomiting, I would be right there with them! Even if I hadn't felt sick before. Now, as a student, I have been able to fight it. I watched endoscopy one day and one of the patients was really fighting the tube and was gagging a lot. I had to take a few deep breaths, but I was able to get through it without gagging right there along with her!