how did you get over the nasty stuff?

[m12988]

I'm a pre-nursing student and I pretty much know this is about the only profession out there for me. I am very interested in what i'm learning so far about the human body, illnesses and pretty much everything (i've also taken first responder classes and made straight 100's through them). The only obstacle I can think of is my squeamishness around blood and seeing someone get cut, seeing someone get a catheter, etc. My problem is....when i see someone get hurt, my mind plays tricks on me and it makes me "feel" the pain. I know i can get over this, I will try everything in my power because I really want to have this career. Anybody else have this problem? How did you get over it?

[handyrn]

Ok, since this is turning into a thread on what makes us gag, I will post mine. I only have 2 things that I cannot handle.

The first is oral mucous secretions. I am talking "loogies" here. We have one guy that has neb treatments and when he is finished with the treatment and I go to clean out his nebulizer, it is fuller than when he started because he coughs in it and it fills up with slimey green mucousy secretions. I have to close my eyes when I clean it out under the water or I will vomit!

The other thing that made me gag was when I was in surgery and they did hip replacements. When they "popped" the hip out and I saw the leg twisted in ways that a leg should never be twisted it really got to me. Sounds silly, but I guess we all have our things.

So, you see, don't be afraid. We do all have our things that gross us out. You just learn how to tolerate it or you go into an area of nursing that you don't have to deal with those things.

[neonatal_icu_rn]

The only thing that makes me gag is mucous- as in trach care mucous. One of the great things about working in the NICU is that you see it all but usually in much smaller quantities. Suctioning a baby on a vent is much more bearable for me than suctioning an adult.