alex-333

As a student on a med/surg floor, I had probably the sweetest little old lady with dementia. She would go in and out of confusion. Sometimes she knew she was at the hospital and that she was in her 80s. Other times she thought she was a lot younger. I went to wake her up one morning and I asked her if she knew where she was. She replied "oohhh, I'm in Las Vegas" (We were in the Niagara region of Canada). And all I could say was "I wish!" The same lady a few hours later had to have her catheter removed and inserted again. She probably had no idea she even had a catheter in to begin with. But as I'm explaining the procedure to her (this was my first time inserting a female catheter) she asked me if the catheter would impede her from having sexual intercourse with her husband. I softly said that it wouldn't but that she was in the hospital so she probably won't be doing any of that for a while. This woman's husband came to visit her every day, it was the sweetest love story I ever witnessed. She was incredibly protective of him as well, she told all the female nurses to stay away from her husband because he was hers! She also proceeded to tell us that she was recently in this hospital. I asked her what she was here for, and she replied "oh a caesarean section, that was about 7 years ago." It was probably about 50 years prior! Med/surg is definitely not my choice but meeting special people like this lady is what makes it worthwhile!

I am the same with vomit! Just about to start my clinical rotation on l&d and peds. How do you deal with the vomiting when it happens on such a frequent basis, do you develop sort of a desensitization to it? I really think I would love l&d and mother baby but I'm worried I'll get to grossed out with the vomit that it'll affect my ability to be the best I can be. Advice?

That's actually great advice! I think I just need to get over it. The sooner I'm not worried about it, the better I'll be able to handle it when the situation arises!!

I'm in my second year of my 4 year BScN in Ontario and I'm incredibly emetophobic (I know, I'm in nursing school and I can't handle being around vomiting, I understand the irony) Anyways, I'm becoming a bit better being around people who are vomiting but the idea of inserting an NG tube terrifies me. It's a skill that we will have to learn this term but I'm desperately hoping it will be a skill that I don't have a chance to practice in clinical to be honest. I feel very uncomfortable basically forcing someone to vomit right in front of me. If I'm planning on being an obstetrics nurse, do you think my lack of skill in NG tubes will affect my practice? I'm hoping someone will tell me that I may never have to do one in my life as a nurse. But I'm also prepared for the reality that I might just have to suck it up and do it. My passion is in women's health. Teaching new mothers, caring for moms post-partum. I really think that's where my future lies. Med-Surg terrifies me and I dread going to clinical every week. Only 11 more weeks, I just have to keep reminding myself! I think I just need some helpful words from experienced nurses!! Thanks :)

Thanks so much! I'm glad there's someone else out there that feels the same about Med/surg haha. Hopefully it works out the same for me :) thanks again!

Hello everyone, I'm currently a nursing student in an RN program in Ontario, Canada. Things may be different in the U.S but I was wondering if mat/child floors generally hire brand new grads. I know that many new grads tend to migrate toward med/surg because this is a good starting point, but to be honest, I do not like my med/surg placement right now. I love my mat/child placement. I can't even see myself going back to med/surg after graduation. But would I be able to do l&d for example as a new nurse? I don't know of any special qualifications required but is there any other clinical experience required in general? Thanks in advance for your input :)