How much bodily fluids???

MZachry · Oct 15, 2004

After working as a Medical Assistant, I know that all bodily fluids are just a part of the job. It's always worse because "it's someone elses", but I know you get use to it...as much as you actually can. :uhoh3:

rebeccalizzie · Oct 15, 2004

Cleaning up messes is just a small part of nursing, and is considered a part of patient care. Tell your family that "someone" may have to clean them up someday...and I can guarantee you, you will work as an RN prior to getting your ARNP...you have to get your RN first, then go for your masters. Of course, it would be your choice to practice medicine, but the program I am getting into WON'T take someone that hasn't practices as an RN for at least 1000 hours per year for the last 3 years...so check that out as well. Good luck!

Oh no, I fully intend to work as a RN for at least a few years before getting my masters to be a NP. I want to be a nurse first, then a nurse practitioner. I agree, it's just part of patient care, and I certainly think it falls under the category of making patients feel more comfortable, and I don't think I'll have a problem with it at all, I can usually just do what needs to be done (I once babysat a 5 year old who wasn't potty trained... :rolleyes: ) I'm sure I'll be fine with it...but it's nice to know I'm going to be doing something other than that! :chuckle

Genista, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2004

I guess I will play devil's advocate! :devil: We don't get staffed with enough CNAs, so rarely a night goes by that I don't get more than my fair share of bodily fluids. I don't mind doing a little...it is part of the job. I am more concerned with the patients' comfort. But I have to be honest, I really consider it a "light" night if I empty only 3 commodes or bed pans. I work as an RN in acute care on a med/surg type floor. So, you have to realize that when the call lights ring, and the aid is busy (as we get one aid for every 14 patients), that yes, you as the RN will be right in there helping out.I'm getting a little worn out from the demands hospital nursing, but it depends on how you are staffed. I often don't have a lot of time to chart until late in my shift, because I AM literally putting people on & off commodes all night.

Kona

talaxandra · Oct 16, 2004

Hey Kona, I think I beat you - we don't have CNAs at all!

Well, that's not quite true - we have an attendant for five hours every weekday morning, to help with washes, but that's it. We certainly don't have anyone the rest of the time; we have three division 2 nurses (roughly LVP equivalent) total, two of whom are finishing their division 1 conversions this year and won't be replaced.

The upshot of this is that we, the division 1 RN's, do all the patient care, including cleaning up body fluids. And I stand by my original post - even when there's a gastro outbreak, fluids take up way less time, and are way less distressing, than laypeople think. Okay, so one of the panrooms has the burnt toffee smell of infective diarrhoea, even as I type, and someone on the PM had a patient flood the corridor carpet with assorted fluids, but on my worst night I'm looking at dealing with it occupying 20% of my time. Most days it's more like 5%, and you really do get used to it, I promise :)

EmilyCCRN · Oct 16, 2004

It seems to me that it also depends on where you work as a nurse. If you're in the OR, you'll probably see a lot less "poop" than if you work on a med/surg floor.

BlaineCM · Oct 18, 2004

Do NP's deal with bodily fluids as much as RNs?

SusanJean · Oct 23, 2004

My husband has a doctorate degree in medicine and cleans up a fair share of bodily fluids on a daily basis -- he is a vet!! Patient care is foremost in his mind and he doesn't give it a second thought. (The only times I have seen him not clean up are when dogs piddle submissively on the floor in the waiting room....the area belongs to the receptionist and she's quite possesive of her territory.)

So, I take my cue from him -- everyone has bodily fluids, if someone is ill, someone has to clean it up and everyone (furry or not :wink2: ) deserves to be treated with respect.

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2004

Okay, I'm sure this sounds terrible...
I really want to be a Nurse Practitioner. But I want to be an RN first. When I discuss this with people in my family, they immediately ask me if I really want to clean up poop all day. Now I know nursing has it's share of urine, feces and vomit, but that's not what I want to do all day long. I have been looking all over the place for *some* reference as to what nurses do all day long, and it's all so vague--"patient care and assessments" mostly.
I have a child, and I've babysat for years. I've cleaned up my share of bodily fluids, and I don't have a problem with them. If I'm spending, say, one hour a day changing diapers and wiping bottoms, that's fine. But if I'm spending 8 hours a day changing diapers and wiping bottoms, I would be pretty unhappy. I don't want to work my tail off for two years at school only to be cleaning up after people all day long. That's actually why I don't want to be a CNA until my last year of school (and the *only* reason I'm planning on it then is because it really seems to be encouraged).
Yes, I do plan on shadowing at some point...but I'd like to have some idea of what I'm getting into first! Help...and please try not to read this as "I think cleaning up after people is beneath me"...because I don't! I just want to do other things as well!
Rebecca

Bodily fluids? That's why God invented CNAs.

How *much* bodily fluids???

How much bodily fluids???