I might gag

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Hi I'm a 23 year old student that's entering lpn school real soon. I just want to share a problem with you guys. Its like if I smell strong body waste. I have no problem with urine. But poob and a spit cup reaally erks me. I hope I can get over this problem I have. Can u tell me how you all deal with situations like this. Is there any hope for me.

This is why I love allnurses..............Im not so weird after all LOL

When I first started nursing school, I could not even deal with my husband or kid's blood without wanting to puke. To see my own blood would make me light-headed. I've only been a nurse for a year, and I can say you do get over the initial 'OMG' factor of bodily functions/smells. You build confidence and get so used to seeing things every day that you build a resistence to it.

On the other hand......every nurse has something they cannot stand. Mine is changing dressings on decubitis ulcers. I have a pt. that has a stage 4 decub on his sacral area. The tx nurse is also my friend and she will pull me in to help turn and hold him while she changes the dressing. OMG I never knew how bad rotting flesh could smell, has almost brought me to my knees several times. Especially since she usually does it right before lunch :cry: Will say I've lost 5 pounds since.........hehe

I think I will keep vicks in my pocket for now on.....great tip :)

When I first started nursing in the hospital, I could never get use to the others that sat at lunch and spoke of enemas, decubs, etc. I lost alot of weight when I first began, then I got as use to it as the rest and it became commonplace. You can get use to anything. Now after 30 years nothing phases me.

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MzGurl, I made it through my clinicals via vicks vapor rub. Make sure you use a small amount so it's not noticable. My problem wasn't poo or vomit, it was drainange from bad bedsores. I have learned over my 6 years to tolerate it, although I must admit from time to time a few things do make me want to gag. C-diff stool is very strong and it's difficult to pretend that it doesn't smell awful. I never make faces in front of my patients because it's inappropriate. The unit I work have all trach patients with G-tubes , so there's tons of poo and secretions but believe it or not I enjoy it. I work 3 days a week 7am to 7pm. Eventually you will learn to deal with it, good luck ok

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