Human Cadaver Anxiety, will this have a major effect on me?

Griffin123 · Jan 21, 2012

Hello!
I just enrolled in my first A&P class and my school is lucky enough to be able to study with a cadaver. I don't have a problem what so ever looking at the body to learn about and in fact I was actually excited to see it for the first time.
Today my teacher decided to show us him and she taught us to respect him before hand and also wanted to name him grandpa. I was dreading the smell of the preservatives since I remember it from high school dissections and I disliked it greatly My problem here is that the smell was almost too much for me (I haven't tried the Vicks vapor rub trick that I read about here yet however) and when viewing his face I felt a little iffy. I didn't pass out, nor did I loose my breakfast but I did feel a little queasy. I got over it as the day passed and I am excited to try again as from looking around on this site it seems like everything gets better over time.
I find myself worrying now however that my anxiety will not pass because of the smell! This is a new experience to me and I was just wondering about how many times you had to see the cadaver before you got over the smell and everything. and If I cannot get over the smell all that well, I wonder if I should be rethinking my major. Any other tips would help ease my mind a bit, and I was wondering if anyone else has been affected by the smell a lot and how long it took to get over it!
thanks in advance!

I wouldn't let this shake your choice of a career. Although it may be prudent to come to terms with the fact that there are going to be some unpleasent smells in nursing. In the short term, I doubt very much the teacher can ding your grade if you walk in there with a some nose plugs. Some folks may raise an eyebrow, but that may be preferable to the smell.

It couldn't hurt to ask the teacher if you can give him some Axe body spray, a shirt and maybe a windbreaker and the whole thing could be like the movie Weekend at Bernie's.

DarkLotus · Jan 21, 2012

I doubt the Weekend at Bernie's suggestion would fly; it sure made me laugh though. I would recommend making nose plugs with cotton balls and a drop of an essential oil in it. You will have to breath more slowly! Maybe your instructor would allow you to wear a simple face mask, afterall 'Grandpa Bernies' feelings won't be hurt and you are not engaging in patient care. During my A&P class a few people did wear masks so it should be acceptable, especially since not everyone in the class was majoring in nursing. The professor would comment to those of us who were pre-nursing majors that we will have to deal with smells but not argue about masks with the nutrition and pharmacy majors.

Good Luck

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 22, 2012

Use Vick's vapor rub or a mask. You have a wonderful opportunity in A&P to actually have a cadaver. Take advantage of it!

MusicEMT · Jan 22, 2012

i just started dissecting a cadaver today for my human prosection class... is the room ventilated? can you take breaks? our cadaver didnt smell too bad, while it did smell it was nowhere near as bad as the Cats we did in anatomy class (those things were marinated in formaldehyde for god knows how long).. my recommendation is to take breaks every so often and get some fresh air.. and if you want to get rid of the smell from your hands try vinegar or rubbing lemons on your hand.. and i felt iffy for a second when i was taking off the skin of the cadaver but, you get used to it after a while.. just think of it like your working on a mannequin not an actual human..as others have suggested you can wear a mask if the smell gets to you.. good luck!

JonJP · Jan 23, 2012

i wouldn't let this shake your choice of a career. although it may be prudent to come to terms with the fact that there are going to be some unpleasent smells in nursing. in the short term, i doubt very much the teacher can ding your grade if you walk in there with a some nose plugs. some folks may raise an eyebrow, but that may be preferable to the smell.

it couldn't hurt to ask the teacher if you can give him some axe body spray, a shirt and maybe a windbreaker and the whole thing could be like the movie weekend at bernie's.

thank you for the encouragement! =) and this i know i can handle most smells, however formaldehyde always seems to get me xp even high school and middle school (i've dissected worms, dogfish, starfish, regular fish in general, crickets, and a pregnant fish as well!) i got used to it then with a lot of trying. i guess its just new the environment and the fact that its been a while has me messed up and i will be trying that tomorrow as i have class! i contacted my teacher and she doesn't mind! :)

i doubt the weekend at bernie's suggestion would fly; it sure made me laugh though. i would recommend making nose plugs with cotton balls and a drop of an essential oil in it. you will have to breath more slowly! maybe your instructor would allow you to wear a simple face mask, afterall 'grandpa bernies' feelings won't be hurt and you are not engaging in patient care. during my a&p class a few people did wear masks so it should be acceptable, especially since not everyone in the class was majoring in nursing. the professor would comment to those of us who were pre-nursing majors that we will have to deal with smells but not argue about masks with the nutrition and pharmacy majors.
good luck

it made me laugh as well and the cotton balls idea is new to me! i will have to check that out as well!

use vick's vapor rub or a mask. you have a wonderful opportunity in a&p to actually have a cadaver. take advantage of it!

thank you! =) i'm doing my best to take advantage of it! i feel quite lucky, especially reading stories from students who have barely even had a cat to try and learn human anatomy from,, that must be tough

i just started dissecting a cadaver today for my human prosection class... is the room ventilated? can you take breaks? our cadaver didnt smell too bad, while it did smell it was nowhere near as bad as the cats we did in anatomy class (those things were marinated in formaldehyde for god knows how long).. my recommendation is to take breaks every so often and get some fresh air.. and if you want to get rid of the smell from your hands try vinegar or rubbing lemons on your hand.. and i felt iffy for a second when i was taking off the skin of the cadaver but, you get used to it after a while.. just think of it like your working on a mannequin not an actual human..as others have suggested you can wear a mask if the smell gets to you.. good luck!

i'm unsure if the room is ventilated, i sure hope it was xp my chemistry room was ventilated, so i don't see why this wouldn't be as well! and that makes me excited for the cats that we have to direct now too xd (we only have one cadaver so she will be doing all the cutting thats needed ) but like everyone else i've come to terms that i wil be getting over it! :) and thank you! i was hoping that i wouldn't be the only one that felt kind of iffy, thank you so much for sharing that. i know i can get used to it as well!

thanks again to everyone for the encouragement and the suggestions! i have lab tomorrow so it should all go well! thank you everyone ill let you know how it goes if any of you care xd thanks again everyone! :)