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Discussion

Scared of gross things!

The first thing I want to say is I really, really want to be a nurse! I genuinely want to help people and hope to one day work L&D. I've been accepted to a school and can start in January.

The problem? Gross things. Well, things that seem gross to me. For example, when I have to pick up dog poop because of an accident on the floor I gag! This morning my little boy vomited in the convenience store and out of courtesy for the employees, I cleaned it up. I thought I was going to vomit myself! I was gagging and feeling a bit faint. Also mucus just grosses me out too. I can't even stand the word.

As experienced nurses, do you think nursing is the wrong career for me? Or, do you think I will adapt and get used to dealing with these things on a daily basis? Any advice is welcome!

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Like cherokee said, everyone has something that grosses them out. In addition, I think there must be some kind of inbuild sympathetic gag factor, because most people I know have trouble with retching or the smell of vomit (kinda like how yawns are contagious!).

You will acclimatise really quickly, and the day will come when you're chatting with a group of nurses and some civilian freaks out because you're discussing how your chocolate pudding is exactly the same consistancy as Mrs Brown's morning stool!

On the germ front - although I'm by no means a clean freak, I'm very particular about my work clothes - they get washed on their own, and have their own chest of drawers. My work shoes come off as soon as I get home, and nobody wears shoes upstairs (my friends think I'm nuts!). A former colleague used to soak her work clothes in NapiSan for 48 hours before washing them, on their own, then washing them a second time so there weren't any germs in her washing machine. I think that, now she's got a couple of kids, she's eased up a bit :)

If it helps, nurses rarely get communicable diseases from patients. the best thing you can do is take care of your general health (balanced diet, enough sleep), and wash your hands thoroughly but not to excess (or you'll dry them out and the skin will crack).

Good luck!

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