how gross & messy is nursing REALLY?

Nurses Career Support

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Hi there!

I'm in my mid-20s and I have a degree in advertising, which means I sit at a desk all day -- YUCK. I want more variety, more interaction with people, and more hands-on work. So I'm considering going back to school for nursing, but I'm trying to figure out if it's right for me.

So, please tell me this -- just how much "scut work" and gross, messy things do nurses do? Would you say being a nurse is MOSTLY this kind of work, or just occasionally, or ... ? I don't think I have a big problem with blood, but it's other things I'm worried about. Am I right in assuming that there are certain settings in which a nurse would deal more with those things than other settings? For example, a nurse at an understaffed hospital versus a nurse in an 8-5 clinic?

Please shed some light on this for me so I know "the real story" before I commit to anything. Thanks!

amy

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I'm only a class away from my AA in accounting and I'm thinking seriously of changing gears and applying for nursing. A major reason is that there is a wide variety of options for nursing. However, we will, of course, have to go through nursing school where we will be involved with the gross and messy things.

In some ways I am selfish or self-centered I guess, but I think that if I am sick in a hospital and producing much of this yuckiness, I'd want to have a nurse who doesn't look at me as a cause for their discomfort. I would feel embarrassed and only more ashamed. Which is ridiculous because patients rarely have any control when they are sick. I think if those of us that do feel intimidated by the mess, we need to put ourselves in our patient's situation.

Specializes in NICU, Informatics.

If you want to interact with people, and use skills, try being a car salesman.... they use people skills and all that crud.. nurses use time honored elbow grease...

I was reading the above peost by a NICU RN and remembering all that lovely poop... It really does stink, and is impossible to get out, which is why in my NICU when ever we handles kids we wore cover gowns, I would have hated to ruin multiple pairs of white pants.. I've alrwady ruined multiple white shoes (why is it that Admin says we have to wear white shoes, when all most no bodily excretion is white????)

Nursing is hard. You cry with your patients. you fight with them. you fight for them. And sometimes at the end of the day you cry. Just because.

Last month I swore off nursing. i couldn't handle being a pawn for the docs, stepped on my admin and generally frustrated. The next day two nurses, myself being one of them, saved a patients life. No help from the primary doc, he was too busy. If a nurse hadn't been there, she would have died. The doc tried to get the two of us in trouble for what we did, but he got slammed to the wall (there is a God after all). The point is, I made a difference, not the doc... I think I'll hang around for awhile

In some settings you won't encounter much gross stuff. I used to be terribly affected by "grossness", but after having children and pets, I can say that I overcame much of it. After awhile, some of it is even fascinating. That said, I know I cannot stomach the respiratory stuff.

Specializes in NICU, Informatics.

I can do respiratory, but I have a hard time with some vomit and poop...

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

If it's wet and it ain't yours, you will see it...smell it...deal with it.......trust me. That's what shoe covers, gloves and gowns, goggles, etc. are for. I like MICU's suggestion to shadow a nurse.....perhaps shadow several in different areas.....really see what it is you are getting into before you jump in...I wish all prospective nurses good luck!

Its not as messy as you think I've seen bloody massacres, inside of patients chests, inside of lady partss, stomachs and open flesh and even had to dig out poop so far. Its no so bad once you know what to expect.

Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.

Da** yall are grossing me out..... LOL

Whose up for pizza lol

Its horribly gross at times, and then there are days that is isnt, but those arent often. You will get to the point were nothing phases you unless its a new color or smell thats unfamilar to you and your co workers then you will carry it around until you find someone who recognizes it.

I love it the good the bad and the ugly.

Zoe

Wow! I guess gross stuff is just one part of the job I'll have to get used to, especially if I ever want to have kids! Honestly I'm more worried about that part of the job than getting through school and learning the stuff. I'm actually looking forward to that challenge -- am I crazy or what? :)

I don't think you are crazy at all amyrae. After all, a little craziness is needed for survival.

Come on! Most of us who have pets deal with the same stuff. That's why there is such a thing as handwashing, and gloves, and gowns and scrubs! We used to have this dialysis procedure where the dialyzer would produce a bunch of urine. And we drained it into wash basins and then, when it was pretty full, we'd dump it. One day, a technical guy in our ICU didn't see it and stepped right in the bucket! We laughed our butts off...ALL of us including him! You get en enormous sense of humor in this job, maybe because you appreciate a lot of suffering. My brother is kind of a holy roller, and he thinks I ought to 'be closer to God.' Well, I feel me and God have an understanding about helping others out who are suffering, and I really appreciate that I can help, even if it is to give a little morphine to take the edge off, turn someone to make them more comfortable, or give them a few ice chips because they are terribly thirsty and can't yet drink. Do you know how good it makes me feel to be able to say,'Sure I can help you!' And the families are SOOOO appreciative! Do you know how much more comfortable they are leaving their loved one in capable, caring hands??? It makes all the difference in the world. I love it!!! Never regret it! Glad there are so many of you guys who feel the same way!!!

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