Is this the career of an RN?!

[DGDreamGirl]

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?!

[JBGC4]

Clearly I haven't read all the posts. And OP, its okay to not like parts of the job. I wonder all the time if I'm cut out to be an RN. I even asked my instructor if she felt that way and she said, "everyday."

However, I believe your question was if nursing was for you. I would say, if you had to miss clinical, which my school doesn't allow, because you were scared of cleaning up a BM, then NO, I don't think it's for you.

I know this sounds harsh through typed words, but my demeanor is anything but. An RN's job is to get the job done. Nobody loves poop, nobody just loves to give baths, and very few people love clinical. Doesn't mean we just don't go. If you can's make it to clinical how can you make it to your job as an RN?

Best of Luck.

[DGDreamGirl]

As many have stated before me: "It's time to put your big girl underwear on."

I have, thanks for your concern.

[Momma&RN]

Clinical is a trying and scary time - for all who have or are about to endure.

The feeling I get from the author of the thread is that she is afraid of her abilities in regard to basic nursing tasks such as bathing, changing, feeding, assessing and so forth.

That can be scary if you haven't worked as an aide. Working as an aide prior to nursing school allows the nursing student the experience of learning to communicate with the patient, practice with transfers and bathing and personal cares. It sounds to me that this nursing student has not had these experiences and now in addition to learning nursing responsibilities she has to catch up by learning how to carry out basic (but important) nursing skills. This can be overwhelming.

My class had a student who was extremely bright, but she had had ZERO aide experience. In the beginning she would be in tears because she was having to get the basics of nursing down. But she kept with it and little by little, day by day, she worked through it and she is now an RN.

The best advice I can offer is to review the nursing basics: bed bath, patient transferring, and so forth. When ready to transfer a patient get some assistance. Ask questions. Use your critical thinking skills you are learning. Talk with your patient to put him/her at ease. Ask the patient, "what do you normally do at home..." this can give you some direction. Listen closely in report. Read the previous charting for tips. Act professional even if you feel unprofessional.

Talk with your instructor. Be frank. Lay it out there. There are many things you can do to improve your situation. Please don't call off - instead offer your very best. You owe that to yourself and most importantly, your patients deserve the very best of you.

Just my two :twocents:

Good luck and best wishes for success in whatever you do decide to do.