Mucous aversion, can I overcome

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So I love ICU, I did an out rotation and I love the quality care you are able to give to patients, even though they are more sick. My problem is I don't like mucous. I hate it, it makes me squeamish. I can suction a patient, I just have to deal with it if there's a lot of secretions- it takes me a second to gather myself. Like suction, take a deep breath, turn head away, suction again

Is this something I can overcome or will I hate it if I become an ICU nurse?

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Specializes in Emergency room, Neurosurgery ICU.

Every nurse has "that one thing", that one thing they just cannot stomach. (mine is emesis/vomit/retching..... ewwwww!)

You may get over it, a little biofeedback, a mantra (this is not gross, this is not gross) talk to the patient during suctioning, sing a song in your head, anything to keep you from actually thinking "ewwwww, this is mucus/sputum"

(and no, I am still not 'over' vomit, I still hate it! and yes, it still makes me retch to hear someone else retching/vomiting. A few deep breaths, a bit of "self-talk and go deal with it. Though afterwards I have been known to excuse myself for a minute of fresh air, be it in the bathroom or outside, so long as it's not near vomit!)

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Specializes in CTICU.

I could barely even click on your thread because even seeing the word makes me want to retch. I'm the worst with sputum. But I worked in ICU for 10+ years. At least it's contained most of the time in closed suction systems these days.

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Specializes in Emergency room, Neurosurgery ICU.
I could barely even click on your thread because even seeing the word makes me want to retch. I'm the worst with sputum. But I worked in ICU for 10+ years. At least it's contained most of the time in closed suction systems these days.

Three cheers for closed suctioning systems! (one of the greatest medical inventions ever!)

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Gastric residual volumes, the sound of retching/dry heaving and emesis in general and I are not friends. I sometimes get nauseates with my cycle and I have actually had to get another nurse to check residual volumes for me because I was literally gagging.

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