Nursing students fear of the gross stuff.

[amy3072]

I am a nursing student and feel like nursing is something that I was born to do . But, I am concerned that when it comes to the hands on / unpleasant stuff Im afraid of what my reaction is going to be. I am not the squemish type and dont get grossed out easily.I havent started clinicals yet and my biggest fear is that Im going to throw up, pass out, or god forbid start laughing (which is what sometimes happens when I get nervous) . Has anyone had an experience like what I mentioned above, got over it and became a nurse.

Thanks in advance for all you input!!

[Bipley]

I don't fear the gross stuff per say, but do fear errors.

Yeah, just wait. You will learn to fear odors someday! :chuckle

Wait for your first c-diff patient that has gas gangrene in their foot. Gahhhhhhhh!!

I have felt verrrrry bad at times. I had to leave the room immediately because I thought I was going to hurl. I did once, as a nursing student when an old person was eating his own pooh and he was drooling pooh. But otherwise I've managed to get out of there in time. Gracefully, I hope.

[nurse4theplanet, RN]

So far in my short little span of nursing school and working as an ICU tech, I have faired pretty well. And I have a pretty weak stomach when it comes to vomitting and really REALLY smelly diarrhea. Once I start gagging it is over. It helps to breathe through your mouth and not your nose. Vicks is an excellent remedy.

And don't force yourself to stay in there if you think you may lose your cookies.:rotfl: I had to clean up a pt's bedpan a few weeks ago....it was so awful that I am gagging just thinking about it. It made my eyes water and I was super close to throwing up. I had to set the bedpan in the bathroom and take a breather. Once I composed myself, I came back in and cleaned up the bedpan with no problem.

Like Marie said, the more you are exposed to it, the less it bothers you.

And I may get flamed for this, but if there is something that you just CAN NOT DO....like for me its cleaning up vomit....ask to do something else for a co-worker if they can handle doing this for you. I would totally trade cleaning up the nastiest runniest bowel movement for someone if they can handle cleaning up vomit for me. I know that's not always possible, and sometimes you have to grin and bear it, but luckily on my unit everybody is really into team work. We have one girl who loves to suction trachs.....and if she is not busy some of the other nurses who can't take it will ask her to come suction their patients. My favorite thing to do is start IVs and draw blood! When the IV team isn't available, I am the first to volunteer. I love it.

[Bipley]

My BEST advice! The Vicks has saved my life more than once! Esp. with C. Diff pts!

Isn't it great stuff??? For a bit it came in tubes like Chap-Stick but (sigh) no more. Or I haven't been able to find it anyway. I swear they packaged it that way for nurses only.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Try that Head-On headache stick. It's got menthol in it. Just rub that under your nose.

[chicky74]

i also start clinicals in jan. i'm going to the store right now and buy some vicks!

[Bipley]

i also start clinicals in jan. i'm going to the store right now and buy some vicks!

You know, I'm not one to be picky over brand vs. generic for such products but your nose is important. Buy the real stuff and not generic~ :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

[MMARN, BSN, RN]

Try that Head-On headache stick. It's got menthol in it. Just rub that under your nose.

I am defenitely going to do this. My mom is a supervisor X-Ray tech and she tells me that she used the "Extra Strength" Vicks Vapor Rub :chuckle ! and that many of her people put small dots of perfume around their nostrils.