I graduate this May with my BSN. I was an EMT for 4 years before I started nursing school, and I enjoyed that... I thought I would want to be an ER nurse.
After going through all my nursing rotations, I realized that I get grossed out really easily. Like, if I have to bathe a patient, change a diaper, give an enema, suction a trach, or give a tube feeding I get physically sick to my stomach...
So med/surg was a miserable time for me... and I think ER nursing would end up being the same way for me...
I thought I would like psych nursing instead, so I worked as a mental health worker at a psych hospital, but after getting violently attacked on the job by a patient who escalated out of nowhere I felt so unsafe I had to quit.
I did a Labor and Delivery preceptorship...but I still got queasy (though I love babies).
Now what? I'm starting to think I just wasted 5 years of my life on a career that I can't do...
Has ANYONE dealt with this and gotten over it and been happy in their career? Any advice on types of nursing I might be okay with?
I think I need to get hypnotized or something to help me.... plus my hubby and I are planning on getting pregnant soon (G-d willing) and I can only imagine what morning sickness is going to add to the whole thing...
Does anyone know if the RN's in LTC deal with all the bathroom stuff or if it's mainly the CNA's who do that?
God Im sorry. No I never got grossed out to where I was gonna vomit or anything. Gross stuff doesn't bother me too much. I have to admit tho, I hate cleaning up vomit. Trachs don't bother me at all, I kinda get a perverse pleasure sucking out a huge lugey (gross huh.) Don't like poop, but can deal with it. I think as an EMT you'd see more disgusting stuff.
I think as an EMT you'd see more disgusting stuff.
Nope... well, I guess everyone's got a different definition of disgusting...
I actually did enjoy my experiences in the operating room, but I had a hard time with all the standing... any suggestions on standing for long periods? Also, how do people get jobs in an OR if they're always looking for people with OR experience?
I started out being queasy about stuff too, but the more I did it, the less it bothers me. Had a patient with a really nasty yeast infecton on her backside. Totally gross... but I got over it. Vomit doesn't bother me, but poop does. But... I still make myself clean it up. It does get better, really!
BTW, who will be changing your baby's diapers? And babies puke too.
Baby diapers I can handle (by the time they're toddlers I find it gross again). So I'm not too worried about changing baby diapers and dealing with baby poop...
I have 4 dogs and I've cleaned up their poop/pee/vomit, and been okay with it I guess...
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
Nurse Practitioner. You're a NYC resident, right? Stonybrook has a fabulous on-line program, with resident tuition for you.
I hated being a floor nurse. Now I'm in informatics, and it's perfect for me. Your fit is out there.