Nursing without the "yukkies".

Balder_LPN, LPN · Jun 13, 2006

I am still a student in nursing and probably will slide over to become a Physicians Assistant eventually. What fears me most is dealing with bodily fluids. Is ALL nursing involved in puke, crap, piss and anything else I forgot to mention? What area is less lieky to deal with grossness and which area in the hospital is more prone to grossness. I've been nicknamed Mr. Clean all my life cause I am a 'clean freak'. Can't stand germs. Please direct me to where I need to go.

You should get your nursing done, then get an MBA and go manage some healthcare company

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jun 13, 2006

has anyone noticed there are five pages of replys and we have not heard from the original poster a second time?

maybe he already slid over to being a PA :lol2:

i think it is in how you see it.....urine - the body's ability to excrete and regulate waste (wonderful!), BM - the body's ability to excrete and regulate more waste (fantastic!), ozzing wounds - the body's ability to fight an infection (let me in to take a closer look!), sputum - the body's.....o.k. now that is not just yukky it is down right disgusting! (but i get through it)

OP- if you still read these and are not in a PA program yet, nursing has many avenues that you can take, but nurses are VERY proud about their beginnings and that is why people seem to be upset; however, you can find areas of nursing that are "less yucky" (research, case work, legal nursing, management, sales, etc), but how are you going to get through nursing school first i don't know! yes, you MAY want to consider a new career, but you may find out that the yukkies are actually amazing things that are bodies are able to do!!!!

my question to you is....WHY did you choose nursing?

(if you still read these, please answer, i really am curious)

sincerely,

jay

banditrn · Jun 13, 2006

I had never been a CNA, so my clinicals were my first exposure to 'bodily fluids'. The first time I had to clean BM from a patient, I had to go into the bathroom and gag. I got myself in hand and thought how terrible a patient would feel if I did that in front of them.

Well, over the years, I developed an iron stomach, especially after many years in critical care. Now, nothing that comes out of the human body bothers me.

Now, if my dog pukes, tho, that's another story.:chuckle

LADYFLOWER · Jun 13, 2006

I had never been a CNA, so my clinicals were my first exposure to 'bodily fluids'. The first time I had to clean BM from a patient, I had to go into the bathroom and gag. I got myself in hand and thought how terrible a patient would feel if I did that in front of them.
Well, over the years, I developed an iron stomach, especially after many years in critical care. Now, nothing that comes out of the human body bothers me.
Now, if my dog pukes, tho, that's another story.:chuckle

Poor doggie!:chuckle

evbella · Jun 13, 2006

I think everyone has an idea of their limitations. I am just starting school again after deciding to put it on hold to be with my kids. Honestly, the idea of vomitting going on around me just tenses me up- I cannot stand it.

However, I feel for me it is the situation surrounding it though. I can handle my children vomitting- and occassionally I have worn it. I feel I can handle it in other area's of care too, but I know I don't want to deal with drunks in the ER up chucking all over me. So, I know I don't want to work in that setting.

I feel I am a caring and compassionate person who will do well helping others-

I guess what I am trying to say is that I think you can probably set yourself up in the long term to avoid your biggest "yukkies", but I doubt all of them. And I have been told by many nurses that you just get used to it.

So I say if you really feel you have some good to offer to those in need of your care, by all means please go for it. BUT if you are going to make your patients feel worse by showing how grossed out you are- you should seek another field.

Balder_LPN, LPN · Jun 13, 2006

Now, if my dog pukes, tho, that's another story.:chuckle

Well, at least patients dont eat it when that happens!!! Thats bound to make it a little easier to deal with (the not eating it part)

chase4myheart · Jun 13, 2006

I can't comprehend why a germaphobic would even contemplate a career in the healthcare field. We all do things in this world that we don't particularly enjoy. We just do them because we have to. The welfare of your patient will be your primary concern. Have you read some of the posts on here about maggots oozing out of wounds? Do you think that you will be able to handle that? There may be areas such as research or management where you would not be exposed to body fluids, but you will have to do your time in the trenches with the rest of us. You will be dealing with incontinent patient's, vomiting patient's, and even patient's with HIV. Your job is to protect yourself from exposure and to preserve the dignity of your patient. If you were that person laying in that hospital bed and you couldn't control your bladder or your bowels, would you want someone with your attitude cleaning you up? I've been peed on, pooped on, have put diapers on my father, and inserted a foley catheter in my mother. It's all part of the job description, and a part of loving your patient's and wanting to give them the best care possible. Remember, that is a person with feelings and dignity laying in that mess. It's your job to see beyond the mess to the person. One of the first things that we learned in nursing school was that a person was more than just their illness or disease. Think seriously before you choose nursing as a career. It will be along time before you become a PA and there will be a lot of nasty stuff between here and there.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 13, 2006

1) Old thread alert.

2) OP hasn't logged on in 3 years.

squeakykitty · Jun 13, 2006

:chuckle That is sooo true!

Well, at least patients dont eat it when that happens!!! Thats bound to make it a little easier to deal with (the not eating it part)

JR816, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2006

I didn't know "pissing" was acceptable medical terminology. I must of skipped that lecture.

chadash · Jun 13, 2006

How 'bout adversion therapy? Is that what it is called? Well any ways, just shadow a CNA or some one in LTC housekeeping for a week. That will probably break you of it unless it is a real phobia. Then, you can go on to the area of medicine you want, without this creeping you out the whole time. Honest, almost anyone can get over it.

bethem · Jun 14, 2006

I know this thread is really old, but I have opinions and I like to share : )

The things that make me freak out are:

stomas (not the poo, the actual stoma. All shiny and ...shudder).

Fungating tumours

Holes in people - eg. dehisced wounds that have cavities, or there was a huge hole left in one of my patients after a tumour became necrotic

Bubbles - blisters, burns, multiple melanomas. I also hate bubbles in pancakes, mousses and chocolate.

There's one more thing, but I can't remember what it is - it musn't be that bad then. The point is, though, I can put it out of my mind and deal with the situation/person just fine. It's only when I think about the fact that I have my hand INSIDE SOMEONE'S LEG that I freak out.

I don't think that means that I shouldn't be a nurse. I just think I know what gets to me and I do my best to avoid it, but I can deal if I have to.