Is clinic nursing a dirty job?

Published

Hello. I was curious as to whether clinic nursing is a dirty job. I have no issues with blood, but I'm wondering if any of you clinic nurses have to deal with other unpleasant things. I still believe nurses are amazing given all the responsibilities they have. Thank you for all you advice!

LOL. You've got my back for pointing out my flaws, but I don't think I'm guilty of posting anything on this thread until now. Bonnie made a good speech, but maybe on the wrong thread? I went back and read most of it and still don't see NETY here. Other threads for sure, but not here. What gives?

Lookit you, looking for more Cheer Points.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Lookit you, looking for more Cheer Points.

It's like crack giving away free crack.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
Given what you all know now, would all of you still be nurses though? Why or why not?

I would, probably. Or a pastry chef. Seriously, I would. I do enjoy my job and I know that there are many options for me. I might not like it every day, but I do enjoy it overall.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.
They are encouraged to take early retirement.

And in some cases, fired, or excuse me, jobs and or departments are eliminated......

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You're kidding, right?

No, the doctor who makes $750,000 per year is NOT going to help me clean and exam room! I'm just thankful that he's finally learned to: shield his scalpel & leave the rest in the disposable sterile tray I put on the field for that purpose!

As for clinic nurse being a clean job, just Google "removal of....." or "busting....." & see what we do daily.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Are you working in a spa environment? Do you have direct contact with clients? If you don't mind touching body parts, can work under pressure, have attention for detail, and can be a good team-player (GOOD team-player), then you might do very well. I know 4 (!) estheticians who could've been excellent Nurses (if life was honey and nuts). They have people coming with diabetic feet, skin conditions, mental issues, birth defects.. everyone wants to feel beautiful. So if this sounds like realities of your current work, then Nursing would not be incredibly different.

:)) most important thing is to have a positive attitude, and respect for the profession, people and self. I now this sounds cliche, but it's true. Lots of miserable nurses out there making their colleagues and clients equally miserable.

Hello! :) Yes, I've worked in the spa industry for one year and a half. I love it, so that's why I'm thinking of furthering my education by performing cosmetic nursing. I also love a lot of the different specialties that nursing has to offer. Other sectors in nursing that I think are awesome are dermatology, forensic, pediatric, plastic surgery, etc. Yes, I'm comfortable touching people and I love working as a team. I love challenges, so I feel like nursing is great. I do hear a lot of negative comments about nursing, like how they're overworked and underpaid, poor management, the dirty work. However, I still feel like it would be an honor to be a nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ICU to CRNA (Yeah that 180k+ money maker that everyone wants)

Amidst that year of experience you will be cleaning up so much poop you will wish every patient had a rectal tube. Seriously, the ICU is possibly the most "nasty" area of nursing to work.

Oh and no CNAs...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm not sure why some of us nurses tend to bully”, eat-our-young” and otherwise be sarcastic to other nurses. Vianyerie has clearly expressed a sincere question asking for advice. Why do some of us have to be cynical in our responses to her? It's no wonder that nurses can't come together and be recognized nationally and be respected like we want to. And we wonder why nurses have latched onto the ‘stethoscope' issue as a way to band together? Nurses very frequently are off-putting, snubbing or back-stabbing other nurses. I personally haven't seen this behavior in other professions such as teaching, but maybe it exists and I'm just unaware…either way, if the days at work are so bad that we are unhappy and discontented, we need to look elsewhere for work.

I've worked fulltime for 45 years in nursing, and most of my work was hard – working short staffed, cleaning out wounds, SS enemas til clear, lifting patients (without mechanical aids or sliders), full bed baths, making beds with hospital corners (anyone remember?) with sheets that didn't have elastic, and running Dopamine with a dial type drip regulator (not a smartpump)! Not to mention 12 hour shifts in ICU for 10 days straight, one day off and back again, swinging shifts, taking call on weekends and nights, etc., etc….No, I'm not a martyr and I'm not bragging, but my point is that we need to love what we do….nursing and be committed to the profession, or else we will be sour and disgruntled in our personal and professional lives. Some nurses, just like anyone else, are sensitive to intimidating comments, and sadly, some of them have taken their own life as a result of inconsiderate remarks. If we can't be decent and professional to each other, the public, and our patients – get out of the profession!

Now that I'm off my soapbox, just a reply and suggestion to you, Vianyerie – yes, there are smells, bodily discharges, contaminated fluids, blood and very sick people in clinics of all sorts. It's very hard to know what you want to do when you are at this point. There are jobs out there that are research based, coding and insurance claims, insurance physicals, nursing education and Quality Management services in hospitals and other organizations that you might be interested in. Good luck to you as you pursue your work!

Thank you so much for your reply!! I realize that dealing with bodily fluids is just something that I'll have to get used to after a while if I really want to pursue nursing. I was looking into becoming a diagnostic medical sonographer, but I feel as if it's not as multi-faceted as nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Many hospitals do have internship programs in specialty areas, such as ICU, Oncology, ER... for new graduates. You are jumping the gun a bit on CRNA. Here are the American Association of Nurse Anesthetics (AANA):

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or other appropriate BS degree, current RN licensure, at least 1 year experience in critical care setting, graduation from an accredited nurse anesthesia program (24 to 36 months), then pass the National Certification Exam.

Meeting just these guidelines will require significant time spent 'dirty' nursing. Not to be confused with a CANS - Certified Aesthetics Nurse Specialist, which also requires at least 1year of experience in plastic surgery ENT, plastic/aesthetic surgery, Dermatology or ophthalmology. Yes, you see places that will train nurses in aesthetics, laser hair removal and Injections, they still want you to have experience. In any case, the main point is you need strong clinical skills associated with the risks of surgery or reactions to injected meds. If your have training as a PeriOperative nurse (Pre-Op, Circulating & PACU) you can also get that experience. If by clinic, you mean a private practice, I can tell you that you will have trouble finding a position without having the hard-core, 'dirty' nursing background. Having that strong background is how you eventually, find that position that has Monday-Friday, no weekends, holidays or on-call. There are no short cuts. Nursing is still the way to go because you can take it to many directions. Once you are studying nursing and have had a little clinical experience, you will figure out what you like. I do know that having PeriOperative experience will give you the background needed to really pick and choose your job. With national health care like it is, Outpatient Surgery will remain in high demand. I work in a Outpatient Ambulatory Surgery Center, 4 ten hour days per week (Tuesday - Friday) with no weekends, holidays or call.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Many hospitals do have internship programs in specialty areas, such as ICU, Oncology, ER... for new graduates. You are jumping the gun a bit on CRNA. Here are the American Association of Nurse Anesthetics (AANA):

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or other appropriate BS degree, current RN licensure, at least 1 year experience in critical care setting, graduation from an accredited nurse anesthesia program (24 to 36 months), then pass the National Certification Exam.

Meeting just these guidelines will require significant time spent 'dirty' nursing. Not to be confused with a CANS - Certified Aesthetics Nurse Specialist, which also requires at least 1year of experience in plastic surgery ENT, plastic/aesthetic surgery, Dermatology or ophthalmology. Yes, you see places that will train nurses in aesthetics, laser hair removal and Injections, they still want you to have experience. In any case, the main point is you need strong clinical skills associated with the risks of surgery or reactions to injected meds. If your have training as a PeriOperative nurse (Pre-Op, Circulating & PACU) you can also get that experience. If by clinic, you mean a private practice, I can tell you that you will have trouble finding a position without having the hard-core, 'dirty' nursing background. Having that strong background is how you eventually, find that position that has Monday-Friday, no weekends, holidays or on-call. There are no short cuts. Nursing is still the way to go because you can take it to many directions. Once you are studying nursing and have had a little clinical experience, you will figure out what you like. I do know that having PeriOperative experience will give you the background needed to really pick and choose your job. With national health care like it is, Outpatient Surgery will remain in high demand. I work in a Outpatient Ambulatory Surgery Center, 4 ten hour days per week (Tuesday - Friday) with no weekends, holidays or call.

I agree with you. Thank you for your advice! What's a typical day like for you in the outpatient ambulatory surgery center. I'm curious.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in I/DD.

Sometimes when I am at work I wonder how the heck I got myself into this. When you have 5 nurses helping you try to catheterize a guy whose "business" is buried in his pannis, you tend to take a good hard look at your life choices. But at the end of the day I love my job. I feel like a valued member of the healthcare team. While the hours can be difficult I find nursing to be rather flexible. With my experience at this point I can get a job doing whatever I would like. I would caution you to not put too much stake into becoming a CRNA. I applied last year (granted I didn't try very hard). I wasn't fully committed because it would have put a lot of stress on my life, but I was curious to see if I could get in. But with 2 years of ICU experience (and 2 years of PCU), CCRN, and a 3.8 GPA/honors program from college, I still didn't get in. It is VERY competitive. I'm sure that if I had applied to more schools, or tried again this year then I could probably get in, but I was just not willing to put my whole life on hold.

At the same time, if nursing is really what you want to do, I wouldn't rule it out because of a little poop and vomit. You won't make it through your first year of nursing school if you don't get used to it. CNA/PCT experience is always good, and will help you find a job after graduation as well.

Finally, I have never seen anyone fired for being old. In fact, we have a nurse who is in her 70's and still going strong (ish). We try not to give her new admits or CVVH, but she is generally well respected. She is gonna have one heck of a retirement party some day. In my area new grads are usually able to find jobs pretty easily. Not always on a choice unit, but lateral movement is pretty common. I would try and get more information for your specific city and places you are willing to move, because demand varies greatly across the country.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work with one of those plastic surgery office nurses, she refuses to pick dirty stuff up off the floor and every day and every hour she says to me and my co workers to "go get me xyz." She is very lazy and is grossed out by everything. This is her 3rd job, first two were in a plastics office. She is really good at looking down on everyone and ordering them around, based on what she won't do now in the "dirty" department, you will probably be fine in a plastics office doing non dirty things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion