I don't want to gag

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I'm a nursing student thats about to start my 2nd sem of ADN. During my first clinical rotation I was giving a bed bath and my patient had a BM and I didn't have a problem cleaning him up but I couldn't help but gag...I really felt bad :o and now I'm going into the 2nd semester and I would hate to do that in front of a patient again. Do any of you guys/gals how any tips or know anything I could do to help control this.

Specializes in Lie detection.
samaletta said:
I CANNOT stand to breathe through my mouth when the smell is bad!! I feel like I am eating the poopy air. I agree with the others when they say to pop a super minty mint in your mouth. I am not too sure about the mask thing because you can't wear the mask all day while caring for the patient, and they would know if you only wore it during that time that you had to change them....although it is an excellent idea.

I remember over the Summer I cared for a patient who had a small bowel obstruction. It wasn't till I got to the bathroom to empty the bedpan that I started to dry heave. LOL. I'm glad the patient didn't see me, I would have felt so bad.

I have been a tech at a hospital for 2 years and I have one semester left of nursing school. I'm not too sure if you ever get used to the smell of poop. I almost think it gets worse...

Oh yes it does, have you ever smelled a lower GI bleeder or what comes out of an ileostomy bag? Now those 2 are in the top 10 smelliest poop category. :idea:

Beez

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put vicks vapor rub on your upper lip and you wont smell the bad smell. Thats what i did when i was working as a CNA before I started school to become a cerfitied medical assistant.

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Specializes in critical care.

shaving cream is the best!!!especially if it's the pasty poop coz aside from masking the poop smell w/ shaving cream, it helps clean up better.

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Specializes in Education, Medical/Surgical.

Mentholatum/Vicks is great. Also those Ricola cough drops that you have to really concentrate on because they are rough squares help me. Altoids will make me whiff to cool my mouth. But then poopy hasn't bothered me. Babies and old people can't help it and we have all been there at the start and we will all be there at the end. Just imagine how you will feel when your nurse handles it a good as you will.

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Wow, I'm glad I never had this problem more than once or twice. This thread is really funny and helpful at the same time. Certainly the less glamorous side of nursing exposed, I'll admit!

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

I have an extremely strong gag reflex and once it starts, I cannot stop it. I have learned chewing gum and breathing through my mouth works wonders!! No more gagging, even with the GI bleeds and C-diff patients who are having BM's once an hour. But you know what I still HATE doing? Cleaning out a bedpan or bedside commode! LOL. I would rather clean up poop from the chux pad and the patient's bottom than to empty a bedpan. Lucky for me, I work in the ICU so most poop I clean is right there under the patient and on the bed, not in a bedpan or BSC. I don't know WHY I have issues with the bedpan thing, but I do.

Now if I could just stop gagging/retching with emesis, I would be fine...sigh. I'm a community puker...I see/hear puke, I puke. I will happily clean it up, but while I'm cleaning, I'll certainly be either gagging or puking myself...LOL!

Melanie = )

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Specializes in CVICU, MICU, CCRN-CSC.
I have an extremely strong gag reflex and once it starts, I cannot stop it. I have learned chewing gum and breathing through my mouth works wonders!! No more gagging, even with the GI bleeds and C-diff patients who are having BM's once an hour. But you know what I still HATE doing? Cleaning out a bedpan or bedside commode! LOL. I would rather clean up poop from the chux pad and the patient's bottom than to empty a bedpan. Lucky for me, I work in the ICU so most poop I clean is right there under the patient and on the bed, not in a bedpan or BSC. I don't know WHY I have issues with the bedpan thing, but I do.

Now if I could just stop gagging/retching with emesis, I would be fine...sigh. I'm a community puker...I see/hear puke, I puke. I will happily clean it up, but while I'm cleaning, I'll certainly be either gagging or puking myself...LOL!

Melanie = )

Me too! I can clean it up on the patient with no problem...but to empty it out gives me the heaves. I think it has to do with my terrible gag reflex. It makes my brain think that someone is puking when the "stuff" hits the toilet.

I think all nurses have "something" that they just can't handle. Besides vomiting, I cannot do dsgs on pt that have had an amputation. At least on the first couple of days post op. The only time I have ever felt light headed was when I took off an ace wrap and the scene that greeted me looked like a scarecrow with black blood coming from his mouth. Now, one or two day post op have stopped looking so fresh...I can change them all day. I can clean/debride/pack, any other kind of wound at any time...But oh goodness...don't make me do a fresh amputation. And where I work, I will ask if I can do another nurses procedure if they will change the dsg. We "usually' have a group that works together and will help each other out.

:uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh21: :barf01:

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Thanks for all the advice...I knew I could count you all. I think I'm going to try that horrible tasting halls and the vicks vapor rub.

I hope I get over this or just deal with it better. I can handle anything but the smell and yes I understand the profession that I'm going into and I know there is no way around the smell...I've always wanted to go into nursing so I wont let some smelly poop run me off.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Things that have worked for me:

1. Distraction

2. Altoids.

3. Telling myself that it could be worse (removing the gut from a headless, water logged, bloated corpse being autopsied or slipping and falling into a pile of wet garbage being compacted on a hot summer day and coming out with maggots crawling out of your clothes.... or.... etc. etc. etc).

I admit though that I've never had much of an issue with smell.

Hope you find something that helps you.

cheers,

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.
Thanks for all the advice...I knew I could count you all. I think I'm going to try that horrible tasting halls and the vicks vapor rub.

I hope I get over this or just deal with it better. I can handle anything but the smell and yes I understand the profession that I'm going into and I know there is no way around the smell...I've always wanted to go into nursing so I wont let some smelly poop run me off.

I work as a tech and the poop and rotten pee can get to me sometimes as well, especially the cdiff poop. Like others, I keep some gum or mints with me to use or a stick of vicks to rub undermy nose really quick.

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Now if I could just stop gagging/retching with emesis, I would be fine...sigh. I'm a community puker...I see/hear puke, I puke. I will happily clean it up, but while I'm cleaning, I'll certainly be either gagging or puking myself...LOL!

Melanie = )

I am glad someone else has this. I do to and i didnt think i could be a nurse with this reaction.

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