Squeamish folks

purplemania, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2006

some never do. I know nurses who balk at one type of body fluid but have no trouble with others. I worried about that too before I realized I would be too busy with the patient to worry about my own issues. Some things just take care of themselves.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2006

The sight of blood, urine, pus, saliva, wound exudate, sweat, tears, and other body fluids doesn't bother me one bit.

However, I have never gotten accustomed to the sight or smell of feces. Malodorous poop just makes me sick. I suppose you could say I'm squeamish when in close proximity to someone else's fecal matter.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 4, 2006

Phlegm used to bother me, but since the majority of pts. that are waking up are getting suctioned, it didn't take long to get past it.

leslie :-D · Feb 4, 2006

10 yrs later, still can't get used to changing colostomy bags....

Saoudishabiba · Feb 5, 2006

Ok, I confess. I can do any body fluid except vomit. No can do. Not even the kids. No vomit here. I am a sympathetic puker. I see you puke, I puke with you. :imbar

JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 5, 2006

Well as a mom of 5 I'm pretty inured to most of their bodily fluids, the question is if I'll be able to handle it for strangers....

Midwest4me · Feb 5, 2006

I agree with earle58....for me, it's over 20 years and it's still those colostomy bags that bother me some...but not to the extent it bothers some people---we had a "temp" staff person several months ago actually put nose plugs on herself(the kind one would wear swimming)prior to emptying a client's bag! She looked ridiculous as well as unprofessional.

DorkyStudentNurse · Feb 5, 2006

I agree with earle58....for me, it's over 20 years and it's still those colostomy bags that bother me some...but not to the extent it bothers some people---we had a "temp" staff person several months ago actually put nose plugs on herself(the kind one would wear swimming)prior to emptying a client's bag! She looked ridiculous as well as unprofessional.

I think I would be hurt if I were that client. I imagine it's not very good for their self esteem if even their nurse can't be near them without nose plugs.

That said, I'm a gagger. If I think too much about what I'm doing, I gag. Haha, I just try to think about other things and breathe through my mouth. I'm pretty squeamish when it comes to vomit and feces. I thought it was normal for a person to feel the need to vomit when coming in contact with another person's vomit, but I guess it's only some people (me included). I plan on working with either neonates or ped because (for some weird reason) it doesn't bother me as much if the body fluids are coming from a baby or a child (although they can be just as potent, lol).

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2006

We had a "temp" staff person several months ago actually put nose plugs on herself(the kind one would wear swimming)prior to emptying a client's bag! She looked ridiculous as well as unprofessional.

I'm pretty sure she looked silly.

If she can't stand the stench of colostomy bag changes, she should have at least worn a face mask. She then could lie to the patient and claim she's wearing the mask because she has a cold.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 5, 2006

We had facemasks with the attached face shield kept on the floor for this very purpose. And once you explained that you're using it to protect yourself from splashes, most pts. understand.

(And the pts. do not need to know that you stuck and alcohol pad in the front of it.)

grinnurse, RN · Feb 5, 2006

Wounds get to me!! Thank goodness we have a wound care nurse that takes care of that for us. I am ok with blood and guts on patients but not my own family. Before entering nursing my dh had surgery on his back and he was to have his dressing changed PRN, had to get my step-dau do it b/c I would think about doing it and puke!!:rotfl: C-Diff seems to gag me pretty much as far as poop smells. Otherwise I think I am A-ok with things.