Weak Stomach

1. Did anyone have any problems with looking at blood and guts before they started nursing school?
   
   I can handle watching certain things on TV (like the health channels and ER) but I don't know how I would handle it face to face in real life. Do you just get used to it????
   
   Nicky
2. 

   About TristateRN

   Joined: May '03; Posts: 81
   Student

   23 Comments

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3. 
   May 12, '03

   You never really can tell what your weakness is going to be until you get out there and do it. I've been in the OR during open hearts, gastric bypasses, etc. I don't mind suctioning. There are some seasoned nurses who gag while suctioning. I learned the importance of breathing through my mouth very early on.
   
   Believe it or not, I became a little spaghetti-legged during a cataract removal surgery. Don't ask me why!!!!
   
   Best Wishes!
4. 
   May 12, '03

   I always thought I would get sick if I saw the "blood and guts"..But you know what? During my med-surg clinicals..I got to observe several operations and ..believe it or not...it was really "neat"!! Good luck though!!!!!!!
5. 
   May 12, '03

   Nicky,
   
   In the back of my mind, I've been wondering about that too. I think that I'll be able to handle it, but just like USA 987 says...you can't really know until you get out there. Well....I'll find out soon enough!
6. 
   May 12, '03

   I think we tend to surprise ourselves with what we can stomach. Like USA said, mouth-breathing is a great thing. My experience isn't that extensive, but so far nothing has sent me running for the toilet to barf.
7. 
   May 12, '03

   njstudentnurse
   
   After a bit, blood and guts isn't bad. You'll be talking about it through lunch before you know it. Takes a little while to get desensitized is all.
   
   I still don't like certain procedures, ie, placing a chest tube, circumcisions, episiotomies...can almost feel it....yuk!
   
   Hang in there, it definitely gets better!
8. 
   May 12, '03

   We all, no matter how seasoned still have SOMETHING that makes us squeamish: You learn to adjust and eventually will drift into areas that do not include that which makes you gag. I, like a lot of people, do not like eye disorders - so I work ICU where we rarely see them. Nursing is a wide enough field that you will find a niche for nearly everyone.

   Last edit by gwenith on May 12, '03
9. 
   May 13, '03

   Nicky-
   I remember feeling a bit queasy in my OR rotation, when they had people open from stem to stern, and were using retractors & cautery, etc. All that standing still & the lack of airflow...it was really a white knuckle experience! It took all I had just to take some slow deep breaths. LOL! I found it interesting, but at times I felt like it was so hard to watch.
   
   Yet, it turns out I function pretty well on the nursing floors...and I've seen some very nasty and serious wounds. I have seen deep abdominal wounds the size of footballs, gangrene, purulent drainage and the like. Not that I am "used to it," but you do get a little desensitized after awhile. We are all human, and each has his or her own "limits." I have heard of surgeons keeling over in OR because they didn't eat breakfast and/or just didn't feel up to it that day.
   
   Hang in there, it will get easier. My coworkers & I can talk about yucky wound stuff while at lunch...and it doesn't bother us at all.
10. 
    May 13, '03

    Blood and guts never bothered me. Before I took my CNA class Poo, pee, and vomit grossed me out. I'm not weak with poo and pee anymore, but vomit gets me every time, and I have been a CNA for about a year now. Some things are just harder for people to get over. I may never get over vomit, but I won't let it get in the way of my job.
11. 
    May 13, '03

    Just had a thought - go read the thread on the worst meal ever served to a patient if you can keep lunch down while reading about pureed letuce and bologna gravy - you'll be OK as a nurse
12. 
    May 13, '03

    mine was, is and probably will always be expectoration, yuck!
    
    
13. 
    May 13, '03

    Originally posted by maire
    Like USA said, mouth-breathing is a great thing.

    If you are wearing a MASK of course. Suctioning and mouth breathing don't go together unless you protect your mouth! That stuff flys everywhere!
    
    I haven't had any problems, although I find suctioning to be the least pleasant task it still doesn't send me running to the bathroom or anything.
    
    Kim
14. 
    May 13, '03

    I think you can learn to live with all the things you see and have to do. Before nursing school I'd hadn't been in a hospital since I was born. Needless to see some things "grossed me out" The first time I saw a stoma I actually passed out (my classmates never let me live that one down) I just continued to watch procedures and get as involved as I could and now hardly anything phases me. You'll get used to it!!

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