Nursing without the "yukkies".

[skybirdrising]

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.

[bren3299]

I must add that as a nurse educator I am not thrilled with students who cannot overcome their "yukkies". I gave one student a below minimum grade for "coping" on her evaluation because she was unable to clean up a confused patient who was incontinent of stool and and gotten it on his hands. She was gagging and had to defer the clean up to myself and one of the CNA's on the ward. I was shocked by this and the fact that she asked for my assist in doing AM care for a coherent woman with some mobility limitations. This 3rd year student claimed to still be uncomfortable with how to approach a patient for AM care. I told her to ask this completely "with it" 47 year-old woman what she wanted help with and this student was still confused and uncomfortable. While I can see this in first year, how do you make it to 3rd year and still not be able to approach a patient independently for their basic needs? While this student had many other strengths I impressed upon her that bedside nursing may not be for her due to her level of discomfort. I believe that if you are focused on the patient and THEIR comfort your own discomforts can become quite insignificant.

Brenda