Is this the career of an RN?!

Nursing Students General Students

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TO start off, I KNOW nursing isn't glamorous and pretty.... you will have to deal with vomit, and poop, etc.

Yesterday I had my first clinical... and of course I get put on a floor where no one ideally wants to be - the GI floor (aka, the poop floor). I knew that NS and being an RN wasn't a glamorous or pretty job.... yes, you will have to deal with bodily functions and "accidents", etc... but I'm totally daunted! I didn't even go to clinical today (which is/would have been my second time for clinicals) because we were told yesterday that we'd be by ourselves with our own patients.

I'm totally freaked out and I don't know if I can actually do this as a student. I know you can't tell me if I can do it or not, but I was wondering if you ever felt the same way? Ever? Or anything close?

Our patient yesterday was so nice, but my god when our teacher had to get a "sample" from her adult diaper, and used a spoon, and her bowels were covering her front to back... I don't know how I didn't throw up! Yesterday just makes me want to not do this.

My teacher told me that RN's (nurses in general I guess) don't have someone (help) to clean up a patient's "backside" or stuff like that...THEY do it. I don't believe CNA's or nurses's aid's, etc. are "below nurses" or anything like that at all! It's just, I thought it would be more about giving shots, checking vitals, relieving pain, not mostly about POOP.

I know everyone's human, and poop happens. It's 100% different when it's not your own family you're cleaning after. I didn't think I would feel this way but I do. I never thought poop would be so discouraging.

Do RN's mostly just clean up poop?!

Hi,

I'm a student as well and I usually can stomach most things. However, tracheal and nasotracheal suctioning is gross to me, but like others have said, you'll get used to it. I think it's normal to feel as you do and you can get through it if you really want to be a nurse and wouldn't like to do anything else. If it's not for you, that's ok too. At least now you know before you go any further in the program.

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You skipped your second day of clinical????? Without a serious, life-or-death reason??? Holy moley!!

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Specializes in acute care.

While I don't agree with the OP for missing a day of clinical, I just don't see why people need to jump down her throat and tell her that she needs to grow up, there are plenty of students willing to take her place, etc.

The OP is facing the same things many students face, who have never been exposed to the healthcare field. My first semester of NS, I remember hearing students say that they didn't want to be nurses any more because of the poop. As wonderful as they were with their patients, you never would have guessed that they felt this way. Four semesters later, these same people can't wait to start working.

OP, the first time I EVER cleaned up poop was as a CNA, and when I got home I decided there was no way I was going to Nursing School or back to that job. But I went back, and after a while, poop wasn't so devastating anymore. I can't promise you that you will get used to it. I still am not. However, seeing my patient happy after I have helped clean them up makes my day.

Take this as a challenge. Go back. I would not be an RN today if I let the poop scare me away. (And trust me, poop isn't the nastiest thing you will come across as a nurse.)

ETA: We all have something that freaks us out. Suctioning and seeing someone vomit makes me feel a little weak. The patient will never know it though. :-)

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All I can say is REALLY???!!! GET OVER IT.... I may sound like a real &*$%#, however I think you have been watchin too much tv or something as a nurse and as a student you do whatever it takes to help your pt to be more comfortable however small or gross the task. You are not always going to run into the room and give a shot or start CPR or whatever. There will be times that you may just "fluff" a pillow or get a cup of ice or just straighten the sheet beneath their bottom and yes you will be cleaning poop... and as a student, YOU should be expected to do not only your job, but the job of the CNA. There is no reason why you should not be able to perform all care for one pt during clinicals. Also, why would you skip clinicals because you had to touch poop? That REALLY says very little for your work ethic and dedication to nursing..:jester:

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

You totally screwed yourself by not attending clinicals! I was stuck on a GI floor too in clinical...but I showed up, treated it like a job, and counted down the days. It does eventually end. Don't be surprised if you're dismissed from the entire program.

That said...ignore the people that are telling you to grow up. My specialty is sub-acute psych, and it probably has the least amount of butt wiping and poop cleaning. And yes, that is a big reason why I chose it! Some people have a problem with that..but that is their problem alone, because I am quite happy with my job and my rationale behind it!

:smokin:

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.
You skipped your second day of clinical????? Without a serious, life-or-death reason??? Holy moley!!

Well said. When I was in LPN school, I missed one clinical day when I was in the ER with my son who had a temp of 104.5. Ours was a 2.5 year program and clinicals were twice a week the last 3 semesters. If you want to stay in the program, you need to call your clinical instructor right away and see what you can do. Maybe nursing isn't for you, but only you can decide that. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Acute Rehab.
while i don't agree with the op for missing a day of clinical, i just don't see why people need to jump down her throat and tell her that she needs to grow up, there are plenty of students willing to take her place, etc.

the op is facing the same things many students face, who have never been exposed to the healthcare field. my first semester of ns, i remember hearing students say that they didn't want to be nurses any more because of the poop. as wonderful as they were with their patients, you never would have guessed that they felt this way. four semesters later, these same people can't wait to start working.

op, the first time i ever cleaned up poop was as a cna, and when i got home i decided there was no way i was going to nursing school or back to that job. but i went back, and after a while, poop wasn't so devastating anymore. i can't promise you that you will get used to it. i still am not. however, seeing my patient happy after i have helped clean them up makes my day.

take this as a challenge. go back. i would not be an rn today if i let the poop scare me away. (and trust me, poop isn't the nastiest thing you will come across as a nurse.)

eta: we all have something that freaks us out. suctioning and seeing someone vomit makes me feel a little weak. the patient will never know it though. :-)

the difference between you and the op is that even though you thought you'd nevergo back, you did. you went back and gave it a chance. the op showed real immaturity by not going to her clinical site as scheduled. if you don't at least try to face your fears, then you will never get rid of them.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

Yup, welcome to nursing. There is poop, puke, pee, snot, blood, guts. That's the fun in it! (Well, the blood and guts part..). I am in NICU so all my poop is baby sized, but with adults, yes, they often require cleaning up a bit. Sometimes you'll have techs to help you, sometimes you won't. You are ultimately responsible as the RN.

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If you don't like an assignment after you get a job are you going to call in sick? That's very poor work ethic.

No that's not it and NO i dont have poor work ethic!

If you understood what I said, you would have known that. Thanks!

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I agree with hopeful3, grow up! Yes people get sick and they can't hold their poop in or clean up after themselves...that's what NURSES ARE FOR!!!!!! Did you think you were going to get to nursing school and get your degree then all you have to do is sit around and think? You should have gone to medical school. By the way, you may have projectile vomit, semen, spit, urine, blood, etc. sprayed on you from time to time (refer to the nurses forum under jokes and funny stories) it comes with the territory. Yes it's gross but...that's what you signed up for. Now you're skipping clinicals to avoid poop. (which I too would be kicked out for doing for SURE) I think you need to change majors.

Okay, for those of you who actually read what I wrote and understood, THANK YOU!!!

I'm not STUPID, I know what missing my second day means and gets me, okay? And yes, this is making me rethink my career choice. Some people get into school, and they realize they aren't made for it - like me!

But thanks for telling me to grow up, real nice! "growing up" had NOTHING to do with this. I am grown up and mature, but I it turns out I'm simply not cut out for this line of work and have NEVER been on the other side of the hospital bed (in a uniform where it's my job to help the patient - I've always been the patient).

But to those of you who just wanted to treat me like i'm dumb and tell me to 'grow up" and stuff like that, thanks for wasting your time and my time.

And again, thanks for those of you who actually read and understood me.

And thanks to all the RN's, LPN's, LVN's, and CNA's, etc. out there. After just my first clinical you guys have more than ALL MY RESPECT - It takes a special person to do ALL you do - not just the cleaning bowl movements part lol

:redpinkhe:redbeathe:redpinkhe

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My mother is a home-care RN and sometimes I went to work with her. She does not clean up poop at all. I noticed many people here said that when they becoem full fledged nurses they will do the nasty stuff themself and not call the CNA, but I can assure you that you will be calling the CNA the first chance you get. RNs are just too busy to do the mundane things that a CNA can do. When I took my father to the hospital a few weeks ago, one of the nurses was working so hard, he almost fainted.

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.
My mother is a home-care RN and sometimes I went to work with her. She does not clean up poop at all. I noticed many people here said that when they becoem full fledged nurses they will do the nasty stuff themself and not call the CNA, but I can assure you that you will be calling the CNA the first chance you get. RNs are just too busy to do the mundane things that a CNA can do. When I took my father to the hospital a few weeks ago, one of the nurses was working so hard, he almost fainted.

I know that nurses get insanely busy. When I said that, I meant that I will never become one of those nurses who thinks they are too good to wipe butts. I know there may be times that it would be better to delegate the task to a CNA, but if I have the time, I will do it.

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