Nursing: I'm just not that into it!

rn2bnwi, BSN, RN · May 14, 2008

Funny, I just came here to say that! Psychiatric Nursing would be great, I loved Psychology when I took my pre-reqs... I wish I had realized all this the first time around, but everything happens for a reason, I suppose. I'll keep you posted!:redbeathe

Um i worked with psychiatric clients in college and i have to say i saw quite a bit of poop. my favorite story was when one client smeared feces all over himself and his caretaker...............they were two blocks from the facility..... :yuck:

carebear1976 · May 14, 2008

Um i worked with psychiatric clients in college and i have to say i saw quite a bit of poop. my favorite story was when one client smeared feces all over himself and his caretaker...............they were two blocks from the facility.....

:uhoh21: Whoa!

noellelynn · May 14, 2008

Even nursing in a dr's office or school or for a company would be a little different than in a nursing home. THink of what the nurse does when you go to the dr. and compare to that of someone working in a hospital, etc. Did you ever do any clincals outside of the nursing home, or after your clinical experience in the nursing home did you run for the hills? maybe you can give it a second chance. if not, maybe think about a sonographer or occupational or physical therapy.

still~smilin · May 14, 2008

Occupational therapy, insurance code checker, corporate wellness program facilitator... just a few thoughts of where nursing could lead you that might be lower on the gross-out factor. Best-of-luck.

ssnva1 · May 14, 2008

I have been torn between RN or RT, theres something about working with critical patients that interest me. I know I could become a critical care RN, but Its something about working on my own that I like. You should shadow an RT. It will give you a good feel for what you would be doing. Good luck.

anne_in_maryland · May 15, 2008

I have to tell you that I used to feel the same way that you do. Sometimes it is simply about exposure. I would have NEVER thought about becoming a nurse in a million years because I thought it was gross. I have worked in a nursing home now for 5 years doing mostly admin jobs and because of repeated exposure to all of that it doesn't bother me in the least. Nothing. Just my thoughts.

AtomicWoman · May 15, 2008

if you can't handle poop , then sputum will be hard to swallow.

Gosh, I don't know if you meant to be funny, but when I read that, I was glad I wasn't drinking something; it would have come through my nose! Thanks for the laugh! :lol2:

AtomicWoman · May 15, 2008

I don't know if anyone actually *likes* poop, pee, vomit, spit, sputum, you name it. But the nurses I know tell me it really does become no big deal. One time, my nurse practitioner had to put her finger in a part of me that I REALLY DIDN'T WANT A FINGER IN. ('nuff said) I was mortified and while I'm laying there on my side, I said, "Oh, I'm so sorry you have to do this." Bless her, she said, "Honey, I'm a nurse. When I put my gloves on, I can put my finger *anywhere*." :lol2: I was so grateful to her. She made me laugh and feel comfortable and feel like it was really no big deal to her. For all I know, she was thinking "GROSS!" But she made me feel like nurses learn to handle just about anything and can be downright blase about anything. So if you have all the other "stuff" you need to be a nurse: smarts, compassion, etc., don't let your gross-out reaction to bodily fluids necessarily convince you that nursing's not for you!

BTW, I have an elderly dog with congestive heart failure. When he first started his medications, he developed EXPLOSIVE diarrhea. I mean on the walls, halfway across the kitchen, etc. I thought of what my NP had said to me, donned my gloves, and cleaned it up. Over and over again. I figured it was good training for nursing school. So maybe you can get a puppy! :clown:

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · May 15, 2008

What about social work? Not everyone is cut out for nursing and it isn't a disgrace.

coolpeach · May 15, 2008

Lori S,

Thats too funny. I feel the same way about my kids. I have cleaned up poop, vomit, snot, blood, and sometimes body fluids all mixed together. If you would have showed me a child covered in all that mess back before I had kids I would have told you to throw it away and get a new one...GROSS!

If it's really gross just put a little vicks under your nose, and double up on the gloves, and don't think about what it is.

AtomicWoman · May 16, 2008

Lori S,
Thats too funny. I feel the same way about my kids. I have cleaned up poop, vomit, snot, blood, and sometimes body fluids all mixed together. If you would have showed me a child covered in all that mess back before I had kids I would have told you to throw it away and get a new one...GROSS!
If it's really gross just put a little vicks under your nose, and double up on the gloves, and don't think about what it is.

I have found that humming some totally inappropriately cheerful song helps, too! :lol2: Although I guess a nurse couldn't do that when a patient spews...

Nursie-poo wannabe · May 17, 2008

Carebear,

Have you considered radiology at all. There is phlegm and sometimes vomit involved in Respiratory therapy. I don't know what your thoughts on phelgm are but it's certainly something to consider.