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

manusko · Jul 13, 2013

The answer is....do you utilize the rest room every day? Then so does your patient....and if you wish to be a good ADVANCED practitioner you need to know the basics first. I have to say I find it REALLY annoying when these questions are asked because they have no intention of being a nurse...they want the fast track to the big bucks.
I see a problem in the future with NP and the flooding of this lucrative market....there will be plently of NP's and not enough clinics to go around...they just might find themselves back at the bedside dealing with excrement.
An ADVANCED nurse needs to learn the basics first.

How many times do you have to wipe a butt to be a good NP? You guys act like ppl who go straight on to NP are somehow manipulating the system. Again I will say that no one in their right mind likes cleaning poop.

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 13, 2013

Chrisrn, I know I can handle it. I mean, I don't know, I feel your tone is a little judgmental/dismissive (it could just be the effect of the interwebs). I just was looking for factual information--how often does poop cleaning come up in nursing school (not everyone who goes to RN school plans to work as an RN for an extended period of time in an inpatient setting). Like once every clinical, twice every clinical, twice every other clinical.

How can anyone possible give you a specific answer for this? Yes, it comes up, depending on your clinical rotation. Some areas are more prone to having poop/puke/urine, like a rotation at a nursing home. If you do a clinical in home health, maybe not so much. The bottom line is it's part of the job, so you need to be prepared to handle it, even if you're in school.

rubato, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2013

OP, yes it can get judgmental on here, but it sounds like you've got a good attitude about it. It's not just here, everyone's pretty judgmental.

As far as my clinical experience, I had days where I felt like all I did was clean up poop and days where I never had to do it. It just depends. But, every single day I dealt with urine. I always had to keep track of it for I & Os, but urine is no biggie. I rarely had vomit except for my oncology clinicals. The worst was the trach suctioning, but that's a whole other story. Yuck!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2013

The point about the saturated market is a good one. Not everyone who plans to go to NP or CRNA school will actually go; not everyone who goes to NP or CRNA school will actually get work as one. Therefore your Plan B should ALWAYS be to return to bedside, because it's unrealistic to expect otherwise.

In most states a PMHNP has to have a signed agreement for collaboration with a licensed MD psychiatrist. How many of those will accommodate a slew of newly-minted (plus experienced) NPs?

The other thing that struck me was your request to have a specific number, although since no one could give you one you did back off on that. If you are the kind of person who puts great stock in your personal efficacy and expertise and cherishes precision and control, being an NP may not give you what you need. Being an RN certainly won't :) -- humans are messy, unpredictable, and believe it or not, not always grateful for your expertise and care. Do not go into being a PMHNP with a focus on holistic care/med mgmt/etc and think that you will be able to set it all right for all, or even a few, of your clientele. Just sayin' you might want to spend some quality time shadowing a real PMHNP to get a better feel for it in the concrete to go with your goals in the abstract.

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 13, 2013

The answer is....do you utilize the rest room every day? Then so does your patient....and if you wish to be a good ADVANCED practitioner you need to know the basics first. I have to say I find it REALLY annoying when these questions are asked because they have no intention of being a nurse...they want the fast track to the big bucks.
I see a problem in the future with NP and the flooding of this lucrative market....there will be plently of NP's and not enough clinics to go around...they just might find themselves back at the bedside dealing with excrement.
An ADVANCED nurse needs to learn the basics first.

I couldn't agree more. I don't know which I find more frightening, all these students/new grads who seem to be too good to help people with intimate care, or the ones who have no intention of developing a solid foundation before going on to be providers. I'm going to be old someday, and as someone who also has a serious health issue, I wonder if there will be any competent and compassionate nurses left to take care of me. (And everyone else who needs care.)

multi10 · Jul 13, 2013

OP, you will be amazed at how things like bodily functions won't bother you so much as you encounter them more and more. Things that you may find revolting and/or disgusting today just won't bother you, say, a year from now. They are not free-flowing out in space; they come from human beings that you care for, and all are critical in assessing your patient.

Bodily fluids: It's all data. It allows you to give better care and recognition to each individual.

We are resilient while learning new things and get de-sensitized after awhile to smells, etc.

The thing that always scared me was germs because I got strep infection after suctioning a trached patient who coughed in my face. I became sick but it was my fault because I didn't wear a mask during the suctioning. (The hospital was out that day.) I got a shot and took oral antibiotics for a week and was fine.

Just protect yourself while in the clinical setting. There are lots of nasty bugs that you don't want and you don't want to take home.

Morainey, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2013

I don't think I cleaned up poop every single day in clinical, but it does happen. Suppose you get a little old lady with C diff? Multiple poop cleanups. Constipated post op? Oh my gosh, he just couldn't hold it any more, he's so embarrassed that he went all over the floor. Sorry your post op peed everytime you turned her, the spinal still hasn't worn off. This is the kind of stuff you have to deal with. I don't go to work every day expecting to clean up poop, but if I have to, just throw on gloves and pitch in. As a nursing student you should be willing to help everyone - yes, everyone, including the poor frazzled CNA - on the floor, and that does include cleaning up poop.

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 13, 2013

Is it just me or is there truly a rise in the amount of poop posts here on AN lately? OMG! Is the world finally going to :poop:??!?!?!!!? Is it time to head for the bomb shelter???

I was thinking the same thing. Do people not get that being a nurse (or student) is going to require coming in contact with pee/poop/puke?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 13, 2013

The answer is....do you utilize the rest room every day? Then so does your patient....and if you wish to be a good ADVANCED practitioner you need to know the basics first. I have to say I find it REALLY annoying when these questions are asked because they have no intention of being a nurse...they want the fast track to the big bucks.
I see a problem in the future with NP and the flooding of this lucrative market....there will be plently of NP's and not enough clinics to go around...they just might find themselves back at the bedside dealing with excrement.
An ADVANCED nurse needs to learn the basics first.

^YES!!! Always, on point Esme.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 13, 2013

Is it just me or is there truly a rise in the amount of poop posts here on AN lately? OMG! Is the world finally going to :poop:??!?!?!!!? Is it time to head for the bomb shelter???

I have started on my designs as we speak...

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 13, 2013

How many times do you have to wipe a butt to be a good NP? You guys act like ppl who go straight on to NP are somehow manipulating the system. Again I will say that no one in their right mind likes cleaning poop.

No, they aren't, but the way that this business goes, a lot of moonlighting will find one at the bedside or returning to the bedside.

OP, if you say you can handle it, then do so...but get past the excrement part. It really is NOT a big deal. If you want to provide holistic care, you do this a a nurse...we PROVIDE holistic care as nurses, not just in an advanced practitioner role...especially the good ones...we do this everyday. :yes: It's truly about how you want to PROVIDE (I cannot emphasize this enough) care in your career, even from the beginning.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 13, 2013

The point about the saturated market is a good one. Not everyone who plans to go to NP or CRNA school will actually go; not everyone who goes to NP or CRNA school will actually get work as one. Therefore your Plan B should ALWAYS be to return to bedside, because it's unrealistic to expect otherwise.
In most states a PMHNP has to have a signed agreement for collaboration with a licensed MD psychiatrist. How many of those will accommodate a slew of newly-minted (plus experienced) NPs?
The other thing that struck me was your request to have a specific number, although since no one could give you one you did back off on that. If you are the kind of person who puts great stock in your personal efficacy and expertise and cherishes precision and control, being an NP may not give you what you need. Being an RN certainly won't :) -- humans are messy, unpredictable, and believe it or not, not always grateful for your expertise and care. Do not go into being a PMHNP with a focus on holistic care/med mgmt/etc and think that you will be able to set it all right for all, or even a few, of your clientele. Just sayin' you might want to spend some quality time shadowing a real PMHNP to get a better feel for it in the concrete to go with your goals in the abstract.

Well said, and agreed, GrnTea. :yes: