I have the Stink Gag

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I am a 3rd semester nursing student and I am really enjoying it thus far...however, I gag sooooo easily if I smell an offensive smell. When emptying a bed pan to pour into a measuring cup...I hurry to the restroom :idea:so I don't gag in front of the patient! I think the ostomy bags are probably the hardest to not gag in front of :eek:! Do any of you guys have any advice for me on my gag issue? Thanks in advance!!!:D

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Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.

VICKS WORKS WONDERS!!!

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Can u explain the vics? Do u carry the pot in ur pocket and put under your nose b 4 entering room? Details for newbie please?

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Specializes in Electrophysiology, Medical-Surgical ICU.

Hey I'm a newbie to well I grad this year but still new to nursing lol...but you take it a put a little under you nose. Before you walk in to a stinky situation! Its pretty reliable for blocking out the scent be cause viks is so strong.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I just don't breathe through my nose when something stinks.

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Vicks is a good idea...

When we had to do dissections in A&P, we would all pop Hall's cough drops in our mouths. It seemed to help some also!:cool:

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just bought a little pot of vicks today to take to clinicals with me!

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Specializes in Med/Tele.

I thought Vicks would be a good idea but a guy in our class who is also a tech said the Vicks just makes the foul smell worse by adding a mint scent to it! Yuck! But I would probabley still try it haha

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I'm so used to everything now i just don't gag very often...thats the benefits of working at an animal hospital before nursing school ;) and being a groomer ;) even today, right before lunch, i was shaving a sedated cat, and when i got to his rear end it was covered in fresh poop, but the viscosity was odd and gelatin like so I told a vet about it, so they did a fecal, well i had to physically check for worms/blood and such, and i just breathed through my mouth (cat poop is the WORST most horrid smell known to man...it will beat a newborns poop anyday! lol) plus the gelatin like viscosity was interesting so I was kinda looking at it to understand it....i'm weird like that, but its also my job (you've never worked in an animal clinic until you've done your first internal anal glands and sprayed them in your face.. :)

So my advice, volunteer at a local vet clinic or even a kennel, and go in very early in the morning before they clean....the instant fecal/urine/blood/pus smell will get rid of that gag reflex eventually!

I used to gag at everything before i started this job 2 years ago, now im near immune...the occasional pus filled hole full of maggots gets me sometimes, but mostly, i can eat around anything...lol

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Wear a mask, it helps a lot.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Mouth breathe. So much easier

At first when I did cadaver lab, many of the people did the vicks but said it was worse.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Peppermint oil works good too. Just don't get it IN your nose :| It helped me through a major GI Bleed.

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