How often do you see/ deal with vomit as a nurse?

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

I work on a Med Surg/Oncology unit and I am with you vomit is tough. I see vomit quite a bit, actually I hear it more than see it as most patients will vomit in the appropriate bags. I will say this tho, (sorry this might get gross) most of the vomit I see is coming from people who don't have much in their stomachs to begin with so it is not smelly and does not have the nasty consistency, most of what I see is liquid (water or bile).

As far as cleaning goes, you only need a mask if you think something might splash, so gloves is usually sufficient.

Good luck

RunBabyRN · Jun 30, 2014

It's not usually too bad, especially as it is generally into a proper container. I thought vomit would be really hard for me, as I've always been a sympathetic "vomiter", but thus far, I've been okay. I think one thing that helps is that in the hospital, we generally know why they're vomiting (unless we're still deciphering it in the ER). If I know it's because of pain or transition in labor or something like that, it doesn't bother me that much.

I agree with ebailey1218, most people who are vomiting don't have a lot coming up (either they're NPO or they've vomited everything up already).

I had one septic woman who was vomiting much of a shift one night, and I did wear a mask while she was actively vomiting, just because I had to sit her up and support her and hold the bucket while she vomited. Plus, we didn't yet know everything that was going on with her. No risks, thanks. :)

iPink, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

Not often, but I had one patient last year that had ascites among other things. She was filling up quickly and would vomit almost all the way to the top of the blue vomit bags. One time I measured about 1000mls of vomit coming out of her mouth. I had never seen anything like it.

Vomit I can deal with, it's those c.diff bm explosions...makes you want to vomit. I don't miss those days.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 30, 2014

I have a patient who has vomited thousands of times in his short life of nearly 4 years. Probably over 1000 days of vomiting since the child was a few months old. It is what it is. Gloves, proper cleaner, hand washing. The child is small so volume is not large.

I can think of many other conditions that are worse than working with a chronic vomiting patient.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

Four days ago you posted:

"I'm not normally a baby when it comes to not feeling well or being around contagious people, but If there's one thing I cannot stand is the stomach bug!

I would rather have a bad respiratory infection/ the flu rather than this.

When I find out its going around in the hospital and everyone's sick with it I freak out lol."

Since you cannot decide what the one thing is that you can't stand is, may I suggest you stop and think before posting any further questions?

Also, doing a google search will also not only answer your many questions, but will also present a plethora of new information to you.

VivaLaVespaGirl, BSN, MSN · Jun 30, 2014

Aspiring, you clearly have a lot of questions about nursing. May I suggest that, rather than peppering this forum with one thousand and one questions, you contact a local hospital about job shadowing a nurse?

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2014

It comes up, especially, as others have mentioned, on a Med-Surg floor. In my last clinical it seemed like people were vomiting constantly. I guess the worst one was the one who had been NPO and then he ate too quickly and threw up on himself shortly after (he was a dementia pt on a dysphagic diet so it was basically like....I guess a milkshake? It was just sticky and hard to do oral care on him.). None of it has been too bad. If vomit is the only thing you're worried about fluids-wise, you'll be okay.

vettechtoRN · Jul 1, 2014

Ok have to throw this in there. What is with those stupid emesis trays?!!! They tried to give me one in L&D and I was like bring me a damn trash can lol!!

Balto · Jul 1, 2014

OP, since June 26 you have started 14 threads! :no: Use the search bar provided on this site to look for your answers... If you seek, you shall find.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2014

OP....it is clear that you have a TON of questions. Try to sit down and collect your thoughts and post one long post with ALL of your questions. We are getting whiplash chasing around your posts trying to help you.

Most have your posts have centered around the "gross" stuff and becoming ill from "infectious" disease.

First. We wear gloves. MOST things you will come in contact with are prevented by GOOD HAND WASHING and GLOVES. As nurses we encounter people who are sick every day and through good hand washing and gloves we do not become ill. We are not eating and drinking after our patients. If you follow the CDC guidelines you are "protected" against communicable diseases. I have been a nurse for 35 years...and other then a cold or two...I have never been ill from a communicable disease. (knock on wood) You build immunity.

Once you get into nursing school OR you start taking prerequisites like microbiology and physiology and learn how disease is spread...you will develop an understanding about disease processes. If nurses became ill with patient contact there would be no nurses.

Second...the gross stuff. Every nurse has their Achilles heel that makes their stomach flip flop but we learn to get over it and move on. NO ONE LIKES the gross stuff but it is a job hazard that you don't dwell on and move forward. Pop is Poop. Vomit is vomit. Sometimes it is more odoriferous and offensive than other times but it isn't like you are covered in vomit day in and day out. As mature educated individuals we CHOOSE to ignore the bad and accept the good. Do we LIKE gross stuff? Of course not... but you grow accustom to the nasty stuff.

Lorilo · Aug 3, 2018

I was in the ER once with a stomach virus so bad I was dehydrated. I know what you mean about those little emesis basins

I was filling them up so fast and so profusely,they couldn't empty it fast enough. One smart nurse brought a wash basin I could throw up in. It worked much better.