How much poop/puke/cleaning of bodily fluids is there in nursing school?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Hey all. I'm starting in September and just want to know what I should be preparing myself mentally for. How much poop/puke/pee etc is involved? Is it a daily basis thing or just once in a while?

I'm not totally averse to it, just want to start getting prepared. =)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Daily, hourly and sometimes as soon as they are cleaned they go again..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
Hey all. I'm starting in September and just want to know what I should be preparing myself mentally for. How much poop/puke/pee etc is involved? Is it a daily basis thing or just once in a while?

I'm not totally averse to it, just want to start getting prepared. =)

Sometimes they come in with it all over them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Really? In nursing school? Don't they teach a variety of clinical skills?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Really? In nursing school? Don't they teach a variety of clinical skills?

Yes. But you will get your hands dirty...and once you start working you will see and deal with more.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Okay. I'm just asking about school though. So, every day in nursing clinicals in RN school you clean up poop?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Yes, in nursing school.. And yes they do but the basics will always be a part of your job/responsibility.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.
Okay. I'm just asking about school though. So, every day in nursing clinicals in RN school you clean up poop?

As well as other things but yes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I made it through 2 years of nursing school without ever dealing with vomit. Yay for me! Lol.

But yes, poop and pee almost every single clinical. You get used to it....except for the smell of c diff. You don't get used to that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for being specific, KKahn =)

I'm just wondering- I want to be a PMHNP and bedside care is not exactly my dream career. So I just wanted a sense of how much of it truly goes on.. I have no one in health care in my family and I appreciate the details you are giving me so I know what to expect!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You need to learn the basics first and have good grounding in actual nursing practice which includes providing personal care.You can't just skip over the yucky stuff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, fergawdsake. I don't think it's fair to let this newbie think she'll be cleaning up BM and other excreta/ejecta every single clinical day. I did clinicals 3 days/week for three years in my BSN program and I didn't come close to every day. OP, you'll have good time to learn other things. Why is it that if you say "nurse" so many people automatically say "bedpan"?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment