My job is awesome! Nursing is awesome!

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So many of our sisters (and boy nurses) often have to vent and rail against some of the negatives of our chosen career and the idiots, both pts and other professionals that we encounter grate our nerves, poor pay and staffing sometimes also feature, but how many people love their job? Well, the other night a nurse from another ward on our floor came on to our ward to "dock the glucometre" there's one on every floor. In general conversation she mentioned the word "leeches" well, I gotta get me in on that.

So, after conscent from the pt I was able to see leeches getting applied to abig swollen blood filled wound! MAN! IT WAS SO AWESOME!!

And then after, the leeches were put into a container with an alcohol swab and they vomitted up all the blood and died! I felt sorry for the little blighters! But it was so cool!

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What country?

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Specializes in CVICU.

We sometimes use leech therapy on our patients who have had radical neck surgeries to increase the blood flow to the area with the skin graft.

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

And then after, the leeches were put into a container with an alcohol swab and they vomitted up all the blood and died! I felt sorry for the little blighters! But it was so cool!

ROFLMAO! Only nurses. I tell my husband you do NOT want to be on break with us, you couldn't eat, LOL.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

That is so gross! And pretty cool. Didn't think they still did leech therapy...does it hurt?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab.

That is the coolest. I wouldn't have minded being in on that.

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Specializes in CVICU.
That is so gross! And pretty cool. Didn't think they still did leech therapy...does it hurt?

Leeches have an enzyme they secrete which is similar to heparin. Most people don't even realize the leech is on them. I've actually gotten one stuck to me when I was in a creek once (ick!). I didn't even feel it... I just noticed it when I got out of the water. :barf01:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/bloodysuckers/leech.html

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

It is pretty cool - and only one of a number of things that you can only share with another nurse! :chuckle

I have experience with leeches as a tx to decrease hematoma after reconstructive surgery, including limb/digit replacement. There is always so much residual swelling because not all vessels can be reconnected.

Hey, has anyone else ever worked with maggots??? Honestly - I have. They are special, sterile maggots that have been tagged with radiolucent material - used for extensive debriding because they only munch on dead tissue. The patient said there was no pain involved. We kept a plastic "lid" over the area to keep them from escaping. Can you imagine? Someone actually has that job -- maggot tagger. LOL

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

You are a girl after my own heart:chuckle

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I work in New Zealand.

Apparently the pharmacy gets them from some lab. They're applied for an hour, and then a new lot are dished out.

It was so cool! It was even better then the bag of intestines I found on the road the other day! And that was pretty awesome.

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