HELP! Masking the smell of feces!

[WhitneyRene]

I am a first-year nursing student in my second semester of Clinical rotations. My biggest fear in pursing Nursing was not being able to contain my disdain for foul smells. Last night was my first true test on how I might be able to handle said situations and in my eyes I failed massively. I can stare at and watch some of the most grotesque things but the minute the smell hits my nares I'm donezo. Last night I was simply the holder/pusher while my classmate did the actual dirty work but even that almost had me on the verge of vomiting right where I was standing. I tried thinking of a million other things than what was perspiring. I even attempted to breath through my mouth, however, my jaw was clenched shut for fear of what would happen if I opened my mouth. All humor aside,(or not) I walked out feeling defeated and questioned if I am capable of being a "good" nurse. I'm begging for advice/tips/encouragement. Anything to take with me next week to clinical's!

-Sincerely.

[vianne]

ah poor you Whitney Rene, but isn't it funny how we still find humour in the worst things, that's what I love about nursing...love the shaving cream tip, and hey not being able to stomach a smell is no indication of a good nurse...I used to and still can, barf at anyone being sick and often was sick into the bowl a pal would hold when I was holding one for the patient barfing...yeah I think coat your nostrils with something like domestos that should do it....sometimes it can feel like you've carried a smell all the way home too and everyone else on the tube can smell it...

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

Anyway, do mouth breathing to avoid smelling it.

To quote an esteemed colleague... I'd rather smell poop than taste it...

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

Maybe I have a special nose, but I find it hard to believe so many people have so much trouble with smells at work.

You all poop, right? Its just not that bad, to me, anyway. Even c-diff or GI bleeding. I can smell the difference, but it just doesn't bother me. I guess this is my superpower. Not the one I'd have picked for myself...

Of course, I'd rather NOT smell poop, but I have never found it necessary to do anything special to mask it. As a matter of fact, I get annoyed when co-workers go crazy with the scented sprays - I choke on that worse.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

If their behind is raw it's going to hurt like crazy no matter what you do.

I realize that... but you need to be cognizant that it might cause pain and maybe seek another option.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

A place I used to work at would douse 2x2's in peppermint oil and hang them from the IV pole w/ a Kelly clamp. A while back I had a patient with necrotizing fasciitis in a most unfortunate locale. The whole room smelled like death--that was WITH the wound dressed, a little air filter, and tubs of shaving cream around the room. From the next night on, I keep a little tub of Vapo Rub in my locker to dab under my nose prn

[AssociateDegree]

"You all poop, right? Its just not that bad, to me, anyway. Even c-diff or GI bleeding. I can smell the difference, but it just doesn't bother me. I guess this is my superpower. Not the one I'd have picked for myself..."

No, personally, I'd have picked flying or invisibility...

[CWONgal]

I wouldn't worry about poo...mucus IS way worse!

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I wouldn't worry about poo...mucus IS way worse!

HOWEVER.... There is little on Earth so satisfying as clearing out all the loogies.

[DoeRN]

I use Vicks and a mask. I apologize to the patient but I'm sure they would rather have a nurse in a mask versus a nurse gagging the whole time. Only certain smells get to me. Poop doesn't usually bother me. Other bodily secretions do...

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

[Larry2016]

I have this problem too...but its ONLY feces smell. I can handle EVERYTHING else....I've been around blood and badly injured patients. My first time through college I was working security in an ER and someone came in with a gunshot to his abdomen and he was holding part of his small intestines.....the smell of blood and the sight never got to me....

But when it comes to feces, I have a very bad gag reflex. Even with my own. Our backyard neighbors are dairy farmers and I choke at least once a week in the summertime. Masks do not work for me.

I will try the VICKs thing too.

[LTCNS, LPN]

I can handle the smell of poop (unless there is c-diff or a GI bleed. That is the worst) but I cannot handle thick oral/nasal mucus and the harking sounds that precede said mucus. Blood and guts, large pressure sores I can fit my fist into do not get to me, but let somebody spit a big loogie on the floor and I'm done for

[xiomara17]

Even though you were not comfortable with the odor you still completed the task. I have heard of using air freshner but not rubbing a little vicks under your nose. Thanks for posting this thread.