Nasal swab/nasal flora - first time.

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Hello,

I have lab tomorrow, it involves taking a nasal swab and skin swab then studying the normal flora of each.

First time doing this and I'd like to ask if it is a normal reaction to feel nervous? Compared to this lab, all other labs seem so basic. I know in the next 3 1/2 years I will come across much more difficult procedures than this, but I'm nervous.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

We did this in Micro. It only involves taking a sterile swab (long Q-tip) and brushing it along your skin and inserting it in your nose to get some cells. Are you nervous about the procedure itself because it's not anything to worry about--very interesting results!

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Well, sure I was nervous! And disgusted that something like that could be in my nose ... LOL! And I didn't want anyone else to see...LOL!

I thnk we all go through that, but take it one step at a time....we'll all be there soon! :)

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Re: Nasal flora...I admit, I was hesitant to stick that thing in my nose in front of my lab-mates...thinking it would pull out a huge booger! lol :rotfl:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

LOL to Suzy. I remember in Micro we had to surprise swab our hands and culture them. Yikes. And then there was the time that one of the gals in our class swabbed the gurney in her dr's office (where some invasive procedures are done) and cultured that. You wouldn't believe the hideous things that grew on that plate! We're like, "Omg, whose job is it to clean that gurney?!" In a very small voice she said.. "Um... mine."

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This weeks lab is done in pairs.

Quote procedure:

"The normal, healthy nose is virtually dry so moisten a sterile swab in sterile saline and gently rotate the swab in both nostrils of your partner's nose to collect any organisms present. After you have finished, ask your partner to swab your nose in the same way".

We examine the results in 2 weeks as the lab class in broken into group A & B. Last week I did A&P lab, this week micro lab, next week A&P lab etc. Have lab in 40 minutes.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Re: Nasal flora...I admit, I was hesitant to stick that thing in my nose in front of my lab-mates...thinking it would pull out a huge booger! lol :rotfl:

:rotfl: BWAH!!!

We did this in micro too. We also had a project which was a major portion of our final grade - we had to identify 8 mystery isolates based on the results of various testing. One of our group's isolates had the characteristics of 2 different bacteria, one of which was pneumonococcus (I'm sure I'm spelling that wrong - too lazy right now to look it up). I was trying to finish my paper the night before it was due. At about 2:00am I finally wrote something like, "Isolate D has the characteristics of both pneumonococcus and _______(whatever else fit). However, since the student from which the sample was taken has not contracted bacterial pneumonia, we can only conclude that the isolate is _______." It seemed humorous at the time ...

The micro instructor wasn't amused, but what the hell ...

:rolleyes: :chuckle

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