Do nurses have to clean up vomit?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2012

Yes you have to clean up vomit:barf01: which can be particularly odiferous after a full meal with alcohol and pills. You just hope to keep off of your uniform, out of your pockets and out of your shoes. :uhoh3:

loriangel14, RN · Mar 4, 2012

Oh yes. We do clean up vomit.There are much worse things as well.Suctioning trachs,dressing necrotic wounds,cleaning up those liquid GI bleed stools,colostomy and ileostomy bags,

Depending on where you work the poop wiping may be more than once in a while.I do several times a day.

You get through it by just putting on those gloves and getting down to business. I breathe through my mouth.

nguyency77, CNA · Mar 4, 2012

Of course not. Because nursing is all about ponies and rainbows.

All kidding aside, yes they do! If a patient throws up in the room, and your CNA is nowhere to be found, what are you going to do? Leave it on the floor so the family can slip on it and end up in the hospital, too? o_o

NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN · Mar 4, 2012

Patients don't like to vomit on the floor/themselves/etc. They generally grab the first container they can get their hands on... Wash basin, trash can, etc.

Confused or non-mobile patients? Yes, you will be cleaning vomit.

sakiohma · Mar 4, 2012

Thanks for answering everyone.

Oh gosh, I hope I can handle it. I'll try the breathing through my mouth suggestion. I guess I'll never know how I'd handle it unless I try :)

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2012

Yep, if there's a bodily fluid to come out of a person & were in the room when it happens, u better believe it lol

psu_213, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2012

Well, Esme went with the little yellow face spewing vomit so I have to avoid it. :clown: The short answer is yes, nurses have to clean it up.

This was actually one of my biggest fears since seeing someone vomit or cleaning up vomit (including my own) makes we want to vomit...so, I totally understand you concern. As someone already said, breath through your mouth, be quick, and move on. I got over the vomit every time I see vomit phase, so will you! (P.S. I said all this wil 100% seriousness....really!)

caliotter3 · Mar 4, 2012

If you work in a facility that has housekeeping or janitorial personnel, they won't clean it up, so that leaves the nurses and nursing assistants. If you are lucky, you can go for years without having this responsibility thrust upon you.

RKpianoman, APRN · Mar 4, 2012

Breathing through my mouth doesn't help me, because then I taste it!!!

There are much, much worse things than vomit. I've only done 2 years of nursing school and an externship, and I've already smelled smells that would make a normal person die; I'm looking forward to my next odoriferous adventure! :bugeyes:

allnurses Guide · Mar 4, 2012

Most of the time, no big deal. Sometimes catches me, usually odor, and I gag badly enough to sometimes stop or start coughing enough to be noticeable. Don't let go of the basin or suction though.

When the smell is really bad, I chew the edge of my tongue.

If the body can produce it, nurses will clean it.

allnurses Guide · Mar 4, 2012

Anything that comes out of the human body we not only have to clean up, we have to smell, observe, measure, document and possibly collect. Hope that helps :)