Need strategies for dealing with my kryptonite

[Nurse Magnolia, BSN, RN]

Hi all, I am a nursing student who will graduate in April. I am a casual PCT but between nursing school and my job I have yet to experience anything that just grossed me out so that I had to step out. Until today. And it's not even that gross. It's something nurses deal with daily.

I knew going into nursing that my biggest hurdle would be sputum. It's my kryptonite. As soon as I hear a trach suction I start gagging. It's reflexive, but very embarrassing.

It's never been my patient before that I've heard getting suctioned . Just other patients as I was walking down the hall and I would just hurry along past that door.

Today my instructor brought us all in to see a trach on a young man who was cognitively devastated. I took some deep breaths and went in determined to get through it and still, as soon as Insaw the white bubbly sputum comingvout of his trach, I had to step out.

You could be in front of me with stage four gaping wounds, a compound fracture, blood, feces and vomit covered and I'd be ok. But Sputum....I cant.

I need some strategies from from others who have had to overcome their own Kryptonite (I can't be the only one, right?)

I also plan to try to eventually be in a specialty where trachs are not the norm but for now, I have to figure this out!

[silverbat]

I found that it bothers me less if I am the one doing the suctioning. That way I can concentrate on helping the patient.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Many of us have some bodily fluid we can't deal with.

Desensitize by watching You Tube videos.

[smf0903]

Sputum is many a nurse's kryptonite where I work. I love to suction patients. I gladly suction for other people if i'm available to do so lol.

All the patients who are sedated, use them to desensitize, that way if you do have to step out you don't have the fear of offending the patient. Watch YouTube videos like the PP suggested (although I have to say videos gross me out way more than real life...my kryptonite is eyeball stuff and broken bones pointing the wrong way...i'd take unstageable pressure ulcers, nasty feet, or maggots any day of the week over some nasty eyeball junk).

Good luck! I think most people have at least one thing that grosses them out :)

[cleback]

I'm pregnant and gag at everything currently. Wearing a mask helps me. Maybe its psychological. At least I can gag discreetly then in front of the patient.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I didn't do anything specific, but the gagging and aversion just went away on its own.

These days, I have no problem at all with sputum. There is even big satisfaction in suctioning out a big pocket of mucus and leaving the patient breathing so much better.