Question for everyone.

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hello, I am not a nurse but reather just a 18 year old considering going for it, my question is, after a while do you get used to seeing things like open wounds, mass amounts of blood, death, bones, people geting cut open in or? that sort of stuff? do you ever just get used to it? I haven't seen much of it in real life but I have seen some videos of surgeries being done and I also have to look away, if I was to become a nurse would I be able to handle that?

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/Onc.

Well as floor nurse on med/surg oncology floor, I really don't see much of what you're talking about. I do see open wounds, lots and lots of poop, and vomit, but unless you're in the OR, ER and maybe some ICUs, you don't really see people getting cut open, lots and lots of blood, etc. At least not often. And yes you get used to it. Otherwise how else do we keep doing it?

Yesterday I had a patient, who for some unknown reason likes to sit in his room naked. He usually has sheet or gown sort-of covering him, but not always. The first time I walked in it startled me. After an hour or so, I barely noticed.

Then he had to use the bedside commode. The aide and I were helping him and I was putting a special boot on his leg so he could stand. To do this I had to squat in front of him. I realize halfway through that my face was right at the same level as his uncovered crotch. I kind of hadn't even noticed until then. I held my composure...we got him to the BSC, then the aide and I joked after we left the room about the glories of our jobs. LOL!

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yes, one adjusts.

even if we ea have our own personal repulsion (i.e., many are sickened by mucus/phlegm), we manage.

for the most part, nurses become reslient to all sorts of adverse events.

now buck up, and go watch that surgery.:lol2:

leslie

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I am weird in that I like to watch surgeries. Good thing I work in OR. :) There is a part of me that can be completely separate from what is happening to the person on the table. Frankly, I am more grossed out when there is a lot of belly button cheese ~ if I am on my 3rd or 4th swab while prepping, I think it is disgusting.

So to each his own grossness!

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Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.

There are many areas in the nursing profession; some areas have more exposure to blood, body fluids, open wounds, etc. than others. A nursing program will provide you with the opportunity to fulfill your clinical requirements in some of the different fields. Many nurses chose the field of nursing they work in through their exposure in clinicals. That being said, however, there is no getting around the exposure, unless you should decide to go into nursing administration, and that wouldn't happen immediately after completing a nursing program.

Perhaps you may want to consider working as a CNA; doing so would give you some idea of the real world of nursing.

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Specializes in PeriOperative.

I can't handle blood on TV. At all.

But I work in the OR and don't have a problem with blood in real life, even when it's a trauma and there is blood everywhere, or the patient is missing limbs. Everyone is different.

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I can't handle blood on TV. At all.

But I work in the OR and don't have a problem with blood in real life, even when it's a trauma and there is blood everywhere, or the patient is missing limbs. Everyone is different.

that is pretty cool, I wonder if I am like that :o lets hoe so :)

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