Hangups in Nursing

[kimmathis14]

Hello all, sorry about all the posts today from me, but I do have a question for this forum. I am pretty confident about my ability to get through school etc. (Hoping I get in, I don't want to jinx that, the count the chicken before the egg thing). I guess my hangup is I am just wondering if it is natural to feel a little nervous about handling blood, bodily fluids & functions. I in no way think that they are vile etc. but it has to be hard to handle them in the beginning, especially for someone who is in pain, from an accident or serious illness. I keep hearing people say that in nursing school they got over the intial queasiness etc. I really really want to be a nurse. I always wanted to but I ended up pursuing business (I am miserable and not feeding my soul handling numbers) and I now want to revisit my first career choice. I think I need to return to something that is a serving and caring career. I grew up with parents that are police officers etc. and maybe it is in my blood. I am just nervous that I may not build a tolerance for that very graphic part of nursing. I want to be good at it, so that I can help others to my fullest etc. Is this apprehension normal? I have felt woozy when I saw my mom bleed once after her IV was taken out, I am hoping something like this will not happen in school as I go on. Thanks for any input!

Kim

[nurse unhappy]

Yes your normal. Nobody like their own body fluids, much less body fluids from another person or animal or what ever. You'll get use to most of it.

I agree with Gompers. It's the sputum that gets to me. Like her, just thinking about it makes me sick.

[jkaee]

I know how you feel....before I started nursing school, we buddied up with a second year student. She was telling me how you had to clean up BM and change incontinent patients. I was shocked! I didn't know grown people wet themselves! (I laugh now about how naive I was back then!)

You will get used to it, although I'm still not good with vomit!

I used to be really grossed out by mucous. I got a job in a vent/trach unit figuring I'd just have to get used to it. I did, but there were some hard moments.

Sometime you have to just expose yourself a lot to whatever really skeeves you. Eventually, it won't bother you as much.

You will do fine...and remember, every nurse has their pet peeve, you're not the only one.

Good luck!!

[germain]

I thought nothing bothered me, was actua,ly looking for something to gross me out- and now I've found it. Its teh sickly sweet smell of liver faiure. It stays with me when i leave a room. I dont gag, I just have a strong dislike. Noway I could work transplant.

But who kknow, its new now, but may just pass

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Can handle anything, but hate to brush teeth. I do it and do it well but hate to clean dentures. Mouth care or oral suctioning does not bother me as much as brushing denture. Weird.?????

[luanne123]

Gompers. I laughed so hard I almost peed in my pants!!!!

I work in two departments, ER and Endoscopy. I really hate dentures and sputum. I can handle just about anything else. In Endoscopy, patients have to remove dentures before procedures and it really makes my eye water!!!! Sputum is pretty horrible too. I am married to a Pulmonologist, and he LOVES sputum. It takes all kinds.

[Wolfpax]

Well...after giving this much thought, I agree with having handguns in nursing... for Pete's sake with all those kiddies out there trying to get drugs and other stuff, we nurses are prime targets... and you don't actually have to shoot anyone... a well placed warning shot will..... ( pardon me?... what do you mean it's not about handguns?.... about what? hangwhat? hangups... oh...

well that's different isn't it !)

NEVERMIND