Worst nursing proceedure ever....

CountrifiedRN · Feb 2, 2003

Originally posted by kaycee
Homeless man brought into the ER for leg pain and swelling. Smell of dead flesh and dark brown fluid leaking into his shoes. Both legs were wrapped in dirty ace bandages. Peeled them off only to find not only a host of maggots but also many many baby cockroaches scatterring everywhere. The maggots I could deal with, their slow moving but the roaches were fast and furious and hard to kill. I felt like things were crawling on me all night. We had to have the ER fumigated there were so many that escaped.

OMG! Cockroaches?!?!? If I had been there I probably would have passed out! Don't know what's worse in my book, eyeballs or roaches.

Jamesdotter · Feb 2, 2003

I hadn't thought of this one in years, but--I was working nights on an eye unit, and we had an ambulance admit from home. The old man (maybe 300 lbs) had been sitting in his chair for several days, without moving, and had been drinking beer all that time. His little (maybe 115 lbs) had been doing her best with hime (except--where'd he get the beer?), but finally called the cops. My aid and I had the rare privilege and pleasure of cleaning up all the pee and poop while the old boy thrashed around and swore at us.

Suzyy_Q · Feb 2, 2003

Trach care and GI bleeds are bad I agree, but the only thing I have had to do that makes me gag everytime is putting down a NG. If I ever had to have one myself, they'd have to put me under first.

Mimi Wheeze · Feb 2, 2003

Good news! I just finished reading this thread, and I STILL want to be a nurse!

For some reason, I feel oddly comforted in knowing that some nursing procedures are downright revolting, and so far nobody has died from doing them.

I do think that if I had not been a mom, this stuff would've seemed a lot worse to me!

BellaTerra2002 · Feb 3, 2003

Yes, it is comforting to know that no one has died from doing them, and yes, I still want to be a nurse. However, the only oneswho HAVEN'T died from doing them are obviously the ones who have posted because they are obviously still alive. I'm sure there's got to be one or two who didn't make it through a procedure. Of course, we'll never know.

Bella

lynnintn · Feb 3, 2003

I too once took care of a lady who had baby cockroaches in a decubitus ulcer; I still cringe when I think about it:eek:

Granted Fal · Feb 3, 2003

At the detox center, Homeless regulars. One has MRSA on his feet and there are toes missing due to frostbite. These have to be wrapped to avoid possibly infecting others....

Talk about quadruple gloving, and break out the vicks. These guys never bathe.

emily_mom · Feb 3, 2003

Originally posted by kaycee
Homeless man brought into the ER for leg pain and swelling. Smell of dead flesh and dark brown fluid leaking into his shoes. Both legs were wrapped in dirty ace bandages. Peeled them off only to find not only a host of maggots but also many many baby cockroaches scatterring everywhere. The maggots I could deal with, their slow moving but the roaches were fast and furious and hard to kill. I felt like things were crawling on me all night. We had to have the ER fumigated there were so many that escaped.

Oh man Kaycee, that is nasty..... :eek:

LadyT_RN · Feb 3, 2003

I work in the ER as a new grad, with that in mind I havent seen that much, but recently a paraplegic (lower extremities) came in with a 102.2 fever, wearing a condom cath that had slipped off. I drew the necessary labs and drew a UA and CS of the urine that was in the drainage bag. I suggested that we insert a foley cath to the MD whiich he said "of course". I inserted the foley and urine started to stream into the new collection bag, first the urine was light yellow with little sediment. I turned my back to document the insertion and upon turning around I noticed that the drainage was very thick and cloudy yellow. I alerted the MD and suggested that we draw more labs on the urine He said "yes". Well when I released that drainage bag to draw my sample, the SMELL almost knocked me on my back as I wretched and gagged to keep my dinner down all the while my eyes watering. (The smell was as if someone had died a few weeks ago. I had to check my fella to make sure he was still living, Ha Ha). As I drew up the sample I also noticed that the drainage was thick and gooey! How gross!! It turned out that our fella of course had a Horrendous UTI. Boy, the smells of nursing! The GI bleeds are also no fun!! :eek:

Mimi Wheeze · Feb 3, 2003

Good point, Bella!

Here's wishing we both live through the nastiness!

:chuckle

LadyT_RN · Feb 3, 2003

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I do hope We live through all that is in store for us!

______________________

I am but one: but i am one.

I cannot do everything.

But I can Do something.

What I can do, I ought to do:

And what I ought to do,

GOD HELPING ME, I WILL DO.

silvermoon · Feb 3, 2003

Love this thread- as a student I didn't know about pseudomonas- looked it up- now just wishing I didn't!!

At least I am forewarned.

I had a pt with a cyst on her back between her shoulderblades that the Dr. had decided to remove. I helped her have a bath and as I hoisted her out the lump exploded a porridge like goo. I was just soo glad that I was behind her and she couldn't see my face.