Long story short, had 2nd clinical ever today and was assigned to a very edematous bed-bound pt with right-sided CHF. She had really bad skin breakdown and, as we were turning her to change the sheets, I felt like a lot of "debris" from the sheets went up into to the air. I could actually see it in the air. I wanted to slap the nurse b/c she wasn't being careful with them. Anyway, I feel like I definitely inhaled whatever "particles" these were and now I can't get the taste of "poop", for lack of a better word, out of my mouth.
Does skin break-down have a certain smell that mirrors feces? She had been using the bed-pan for her bowel movements, but I'm not sure if she had feces in between her skin folds or in the old sheets, b/c I wasn't on that side of her when turning her.
It is really rather unpleasant. I've tried brushing my teeth and mouth-washing and it has still come back on and off over the past few hours. UGH.
Am I crazy? What did I inhale? Should I be worried?
It is how the elderly bestow their wisdom and good-nature upon us.
You must not work exclusively with elders. Wisdom and good nature in LTC residents is pretty rare! More like confusion and agitation being rained upon us by the elder dust. It must be contagious, that would explain a lot.
ps I am SO stealing elder dust. Perfect description!
Lol. No one has been rude except you. Even saying you wanted to slap the nurse is inconsiderate. You are a new nursing student on their second day of clinical. That was an experienced nurse. To
criticize how the nurse did something is rude & ignorant. Not everything is by the book. Trust me, you will find out *if* you pass nursing school, the NCLEX & get a job. But with that attitude, don't be surprised if your nursing career is cut short.
So just because I'm brand new, I'm not allowed to call out an experienced nurse for a legitimate reason? Maybe me saying "I wanted to slap the nurse" was a poor choice of wording, I was just annoyed b/c I got a huge debris cloud right in my face.
And I obviously don't think she did it on purpose, I'm sure she just wasn't thinking of it at the time for perhaps any number of reasons. I understand that people make mistakes and I know I'm not above making them, either.
However, just because I don't have any experience doesn't preclude me from being allowed to be annoyed. If I were a nurse with 20 yrs experience, everyone on here would probably say "omg, I know I hate when people do that", instead of smacking me down b/c of lack of experience.
I'm usually a very patient and understanding person. Note I did not *actually* slap her, nor did I say anything to her, as I understand it was not on purpose. She actually was really helpful to me throughout the day and let me do several things we had just learned in lab. This was not an attack on her, I was just venting my frustration, as any normal person would.
And to address another poster who had mentioned the code situation and not being able to help "slinging" things at each other, my situation was completely different. Things were pretty calm on the floor at the time and the nurse was not rushing around or showing any outward signs of being stressed out. I understand she still may have been stressed and was just doing a good job of keeping her composure, but still, she definitely did not need to be flinging around those sheets like that.
AGAIN, I understand no one is perfect and it may have been a one-time thing. I was just VENTING, people!
It is very unlikely that you have poop particles in your mouth. Skin particles? Maybe..... Once you get home strip down and shower. It is most likely that you get a whiff of the stench and it seems like you can taste it. Autoclaving your uniform will become habit after a while.
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
I worked in a trauma/surgical/burn ICU and I know exactly what you're talking about. I even have thought about introducing a nasal spray for nurses called 'No Scents' that you can use to spray in your nose after having to smell whatever bad smell it is. I figured it would contain some essential oils or other scents to override the receptors. If anyone wants to help bring this to market, private message me. You can use some vick's vapor rub or peppermint oil on your neck or something else equally pungent to get that sticky smell out of your airway/mouth/nose.
Similar product already on the market, although it's not a spray: S'nough Stick
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
So just because I'm brand new, I'm not allowed to call out an experienced nurse for a legitimate reason? Maybe me saying "I wanted to slap the nurse" was a poor choice of wording, I was just annoyed b/c I got a huge debris cloud right in my face.
And I obviously don't think she did it on purpose, I'm sure she just wasn't thinking of it at the time for perhaps any number of reasons. I understand that people make mistakes and I know I'm not above making them, either.
However, just because I don't have any experience doesn't preclude me from being allowed to be annoyed. If I were a nurse with 20 yrs experience, everyone on here would probably say "omg, I know I hate when people do that", instead of smacking me down b/c of lack of experience.
I'm usually a very patient and understanding person. Note I did not *actually* slap her, nor did I say anything to her, as I understand it was not on purpose. She actually was really helpful to me throughout the day and let me do several things we had just learned in lab. This was not an attack on her, I was just venting my frustration, as any normal person would.
And to address another poster who had mentioned the code situation and not being able to help "slinging" things at each other, my situation was completely different. Things were pretty calm on the floor at the time and the nurse was not rushing around or showing any outward signs of being stressed out. I understand she still may have been stressed and was just doing a good job of keeping her composure, but still, she definitely did not need to be flinging around those sheets like that.
AGAIN, I understand no one is perfect and it may have been a one-time thing. I was just VENTING, people!
How is that pedestal you're on? High enough?
Critizing an experienced nurse when you, yourself have zero nursing experience & exclaiming you wanted to "slap her" is petty. How can you criticize something you have zero experience in? Once (if) you get real world nursing experience you will realize that the nurse did nothing wrong. They teach you how to do things by the book but in the real world, it isn't like that. If we did everything by the book we would never get done with our work.
How do you know the nurse wasn't busy? Did you ask her or just assume? Maybe she had a bunch of doctors to call back or documentation to do.
To make a big stink about something you don't know much about doesn't make you look good.
We are all experienced nurses & know what the real world is like. Nursing school is nothing like actually being a nurse. You think when I worked LTC I had time to do the linens on a bed that was occupied by a patient? You do things as efficiently & quickly as possible. I don't have time to be in a patient's room for 30+ minutes. Ten minutes is way too much!
Our opinions wouldn't change if you had real nursing experience. It just makes you look worse than if you were actually working as a nurse.
If the nurse would've done something truly bad like reusing a needle or violating HIPAA, then I could understand your distress. But what that nurse did didn't harm you or the patient.
So just because I'm brand new, I'm not allowed to call out an experienced nurse for a legitimate reason?
When you actually HAVE a legitimate reason then maybe.
And I obviously don't think she did it on purpose, I'm sure she just wasn't thinking of it at the time for perhaps any number of reasons. I understand that people make mistakes and I know I'm not above making them, either.
She didn't make a mistake.
This was not an attack on her, I was just venting my frustration, as any normal person would do.
No, you are not reacting normally. Being grossed out is normal. Being angry and frustrated is not. Thinking the nurse screwed up is not. Had you come here and told us about how you were helping change sheets and got a face full of stank so bad you can taste it we would have commiserated. Instead you blamed the nurse and accused her of doing her job wrong.
Things were pretty calm on the floor at the time and the nurse was not rushing around or showing any outward signs of being stressed out?
As a nurse it's our job to remain calm. Stressed out nurses make stressed out patients.
AGAIN, I understand no one is perfect and it may have been a one-time thing. I was just VENTING, people!
Sorry to break it to you but this is the first in a long line of exposures to icky human detritus you will experience. Learn to plan for it but realize that it sometimes sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Wait until you do your first foley on a patient that isn't so ummmm fresh down there. If it upsets you this much wear a mask and face shield like another poster said. Nobody would blame you.
A little bit of essential oil inside a mask will help immensely. Doesn't matter the fragrance. Choose what you like. Also, iodoform packing strips do an amazing job of eliminating odors in stinky rooms. Hopefully this will help you avoid the grodie taste in your mouth from happening again.
Wow, seriously you guys with all the hate? I was asking a serious question and NO IT'S NOT A DENTAL ISSUE. I floss every night and have perfect teeth and gums and have never had a cavity.
And YES, I wanted to slap the nurse, b/c we were taught that you are supposed to roll up the dirty bedding gently and so that the dirty side is on the inside, while having the dirty linens bin nearby, not just fling it all over the place and eventually onto the floor, causing debris to go everywhere.
The residual "taste" has mostly gone away, and I have several nurse friends who have confirmed that they have had this happen as well.
So, yeah, you can all get off your high horse. Jeez...
Actually it wasn't your original post I found offensive. It was your follow up attack on the AllNurses community that marks you as the hater.
Just keep doublin' down and see how fresh you smell to those around you.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Wow, seriously you guys with all the hate? I was asking a serious question and NO IT'S NOT A DENTAL ISSUE. I floss every night and have perfect teeth and gums and have never had a cavity.
And YES, I wanted to slap the nurse, b/c we were taught that you are supposed to roll up the dirty bedding gently and so that the dirty side is on the inside, while having the dirty linens bin nearby, not just fling it all over the place and eventually onto the floor, causing debris to go everywhere.
The residual "taste" has mostly gone away, and I have several nurse friends who have confirmed that they have had this happen as well.
So, yeah, you can all get off your high horse. Jeez...
((HUGS)) Before you get even further upset....they were laughing WITH you not AT you.....they were teasing.
Things are not always done like they are in nursing school.....and unless the nurse shook them out as if she was going to hang them on a clothesline....it is highly unlikely you got stool particles in your mouth and even more unlikely they would leave a real residual taste in your mouth. So before you continue with your urges to "slap" the nurse (I hope you meant figuratively and not literally) understand that things are not always done in the real world of nursing as they were taught in school.
I have on occasion had smells "stick" in my nose, like a GI bleed, that seems to stick around a bit but all are really harmless.
It is how the elderly bestow their wisdom and good-nature upon us.
I love it. I will remember this the next time I take off my black leggings and see all the elder dust inside them. It appears I might have extra to go around.
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
OP, same thing has happened to me. It's psychological, but it's powerful!
The reason I know that it's psychological is that the only thing that makes it go away is to stop thinking about it. Literally do not allow yourself to have another thought about it. It will go away.
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kbrn2002, ADN, RN
3,966 Posts
You must not work exclusively with elders. Wisdom and good nature in LTC residents is pretty rare! More like confusion and agitation being rained upon us by the elder dust. It must be contagious, that would explain a lot.
ps I am SO stealing elder dust. Perfect description!