cna? gag reflex help?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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hi just wondering how many Pre nursing students are going for their cna certification

some programs require it, others do not ....

i am doing it to get clinical experience

today i gagged while trying to change the liquidy excrement of a poor woman on a feeding tube (i guess) who had no legs ...it was all very surreal for me...the most i have ever done is change my son's diaper...

we have kinda been thrown to the wolves at our clinicals as far as too many students not enough CNAs to shadow

plus the CNAs do not necessarily want us to be around ..it is awkward

we do theory at one site which is great

the clinicals are hard b/c it is hard to put your theory into practice with a CNA who does not "do it by the book " and does not want you around

i understand the part about not necessarily doing it by the book ...clinical is there to show you reality but i have seen what i thought were infractions ....

not sure if i should continue this course ..it is only 4 weeks ..perhaps i need a slower paced cna course

ps i asked to help change the woman's pad but when i saw no legs and the poopy after i was already frustrated by the lack of guidance plus i am pms ing ha ha ha

i am so annoyed with myself

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Is it the smell, or just the thought of it? If it's the smell then Vicks vapo rub under the nose would probably help and I bet a nice strong Altiod couldn't hurt either! Try not tp psych yourself out, sometimes just the thinking about it will get ya! I've cleaned up lots and lots of elderly poo and dealt with more impacted bowel then I care to remember. It does get easier...

P.S. I think it's great that you are doing your CNA first... it will give you a new respect for them when you are a nurse!

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Is it the smell, or just the thought of it? If it's the smell then Vicks vapo rub under the nose would probably help and I bet a nice strong Altiod couldn't hurt either! Try not tp psych yourself out, sometimes just the thinking about it will get ya! I've cleaned up lots and lots of elderly poo and dealt with more impacted bowel then I care to remember. It does get easier...

P.S. I think it's great that you are doing your CNA first... it will give you a new respect for them when you are a nurse!

because i do not breathe through my nose during these types of situations

and so i guess it was the thought....

but i really try to put my self out of that mind set when seeing bodily fluids but most importantly .......

THIS IS ALL VERY NEW FOR ME ...my mind is made up...i will do this ...

i think the poor condition of this lady really threw me off ...i was definitely dealing with the fact that she was so incapcitated (and no legs ..i felt like crying right then) i was not prepped as to her condition

it was just all overwhelming but i will be back next saturday to try it all again and THANKS for the positive words ....

there are some here who just write it off as

"well if you can't handle THAT then how do you think you will EVER make it as a nurse "

very discouraging and demeaning

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Oh, here are my favorites: Gangrene on a obese woman's pelvis and a homeless man that had pissed his self and had not showered in God know how long. Learn to make friends with Vic Vapor rub or any strong good smelling ordor that you can rub under your nose. The sight of blood and guts, barf, fecal matter ect, does not bother me at all. But rotting flesh on a living person is not a field of roses. You somewhat adjust, other times you have to grin and bear it, or rub the Vic under your nose!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Thanks for posting this.....I'll make sure to always carry Vicks with me when I start my RN program!

As for your CNA class....it's only 4 weeks, you can do it!! :)

Good luck, and LONG LIVE VICKS VAPOR RUB! :rolleyes:

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In my cna class they always told us to mouth breathe if we were confronted with very potent odors. I feel gross doing that because I feel like the smell is going inside my mouth (or I'm in some way "eating" the smell...) so I just breathe through my nose and bear it. :p

Keely

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Specializes in CNA, PTA.

When I went for clincals in the C.N.A. course, the nursing homes were a little bit harder because they really dont give you reports on the patients. I did think that it was alot easier in the hospital because you did get the paperwork on the patients and you kinda had an idea what you were getting into.

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yes it is very hard to figure out what is going on when you have no info on the pt

does that have anything to do with HIPPA - i think it is just b/c we are in clinicals and don't need to know anything HA

who is allowed to know what is going on with a pt

i would think CNA's would be clued in as well

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