Nursing Question

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For all you nurses, if cleaning up vomit makes you gag or almost throw up yourself, do you think that is a sign that you would never be able to handle being a nurse?

Specializes in SRNA.

There are definitely smells that bother me. I slap on one of those surgical type masks that loop around the ears and cover the nose and mouth and spread some toothpaste on the outside of it under my nose if I know I'm going to have to deal with something that will make me gag.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Education.

When I first started nursing, I couldn't stand vomit. It took me 3 patients to get over it. You just know that you have a job to do and do it! I used to run for the door when my patient said, "I'm gonna' be sick!" - but now I run for the puke bucket! It's better to empty that then clean it off your patient!

That said, I do get kinda grossed out with phlegm/spit. Especially if it's spit from teeth brushing.....ewwwww!

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I can deal with the visuals and the smells. I can't deal with the sound of gagging. Its almost like it sets off my gag reflex. I sing to myself in my head, and try to pretend I don't hear it.

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Specializes in ED.

Had a guy that kept swallowing his own vomit even though he was offered a bucket. " I'm gonna throw. Up"

"ok go ahead"

Swallow swallow

Yucko

I love etoh patients

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My sister used to pass out every time she saw blood. When she said that she wanted to be a nurse, I thought she was crazy! She has been a nurse for the past 25 yrs!

I never had issues with body fluids...made things easy when I had kids! LOL

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