Help....i almost puked in clinicals

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 5, 2004

Learn how to breathe through your mouth.

Carry a small container of Vic's Vaporub in your pocket.

SugarMagnolia · Nov 5, 2004

As the above post recommends, vicks is very good. I usually have to suck on a strong mint when I'm encountering something funky.

As a funny aside, once when I was a CNA, I paid another CNA $20 to clean up puke for me. :chuckle Best of luck to you. I'm sure you'll be fine. Pam

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2004

Awwwww, been there, done that. Don't feel bad, it happens. You do get used to it and find ways to cope with it and not gag. I remember showering this guy and he started pooping all over the floor while I was trying to wash him off, I thought I was going to have to go over to the toilet to puke, but I just kept gagging the whole time.... it was just awful! I think we all know how you feel!

Do like the others said and use Vicks, mints, etc. For me the best thing I've learned was to breathe through my mouth! That really helps, just practice and practice it and soon enough you'll be able to handle it!

gerry79 · Nov 5, 2004

But if you breath thru your mouth cant you taste it???????

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Nov 5, 2004

I agree with the Vics rub and breathing through your mouth (um, no, I can't taste it thank God!) lol. Good luck hun!

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2004

NO lol. You can't taste it! Actually, your nose plays a big part in taste too. Try eating something while plugging your nose..... it won't taste as good!

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Nov 5, 2004

Vick's vapor rub - what a lifesaver - I use it often.

Valwolf · Nov 5, 2004

Thanks to all of you.... Actually I started to gag when I tried mouth breathing... I will try the mints and vicks next week...

Val

abundantjoy07, RN · Nov 5, 2004

Thanks to all of you.... Actually I started to gag when I tried mouth breathing... I will try the mints and vicks next week...
Val

Me too! Vicks and mouth breathing is going to be a way of life for me. I guess in addition to the smell, I have to get used to looking at the poop of other people. Normally I try looking around it, but sometimes that's still not enough. Good luck Val!

purplekath · Nov 6, 2004

It does happen - I'm sure it's some physiological purpose so that we don't end up eating something terrible! lol

What works for me is breathing very shallow through my mouth and holding my breath a little if I feel that reflex kicking in. But I do think there are a lot of associations that we make mentally with yukky stuff, and perhaps undoing those associations is how veteran nurses handle it? I find self-talk useful. If I'm feeling grossed out by poop, I try to "clinicalise it" in my mind. I think about A&P and tell myself it's just the parts of our food we can't digest mixed with a squirt or two of bile! If I'm really bad I'll visualise all the organs involved and mentally try to recount the processes involved in producing it -- I'm sure this wouldn't work for everyone, but for some reason it gives me a little psychological "distance"!!

Mind you, I still struggle with it at the dementia unit I work in -- picking it up off the floor, cleaning it from someone's fingernails, removing it from someone's shoes, cleaning up after someone has decided to do a finger painting on the wall with it etc!! It's a little harder to depersonalise it when they find such amazing ways to mangle it! lol

gerry79 · Nov 8, 2004

When I start clinicals, I am going to conquer my fear of poop by picking it up (If its not mushy!) and playing with it like playdoe. I will mash it, make animals or other intersting sculptures, and then dispose of it! Hopefully after that i will be able to deal with poop! What do you guys think of my plan! Would you endorse it!! :lol2: