Squeamish future nursing student

[mecapon91]

Hi!

I graduated from college last may but knew I had to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. I was just accepted and will begin in a few months.

Here is my problem....I'm worried I will be too squeamish to make the cut. Right now I am a preschool teacher and the other day I literally gagged over a diaper (granted this was not a normal diaper. Child is having severe stomach issues). But it stopped me and made me think...what if I can't get past this? What if every time something gross happens I almost (and maybe even do) throw up? Or pass out?

Is this a deal breaker? Anyones experience and knowledge would be much appreciated. Also tips on toning down the gag reflex??

Miriam

[NurseKellyKMo]

Cracking up reading this article. I am an lpn, do wound care on a regular basis. However, my mom just had surgery and I have had to assist her with post BM paperwork. On more than one occasion I felt myself winding up to gag. Some menthol rub on your nose, don't let your imagination get to you, and remind yourself that your patients need you.

[HammockBound]

It's amazing how you adjust. I was terrified of smells because I've always gagged at even the thought of certain smells. I've shocked myself because I've even cleaned diarrhea in process (lol) and I was ok. I carry the menthol just in case but haven't used it yet. But I can still smell the c diff from last May.

[mecapon91]

Thank you for responding! I am starting my classes in May and clinicals will start next March. So I'm hoping with the knowledge I gain I'll feel much more ready...and will probably have to desensitize pretty quickly! But I am not going to let this get in the way of a dream.

[OneHappyRN]

I can SO relate!! I let it stop me for quite some time. Then when I decided to pursue my dream, I had a couple of people say, "Nursing?? Are you sure you can handle it?!" b/c they knew how squeamish I was. I talked to other nurses for input and they all said that you do get used to it. I had to take their word for it. I have to say...it really is TRUE! Sometimes I shock myself w/ the stuff that I'm doing and able to w/o gagging. I won't lie - the first bedpan in nursing school was pretty bad and I gagged my way through it - but it's just second nature now.

I went to nursing school realizing that there are so many different avenues that I could take w/ a nursing degree. If I absolutely hated and couldn't handle the bedside, I knew I would have other options. Don't let your sensitive gag reflex and squeamishness scare you away - you may surprise yourself w/ what you can handle.

[MidLifeRN2012]

If you can make it through nursing school and still can't get past the stench, you can always go into psych nursing.

Unless it is a med/psych unit there is virtually no 'gross' ... unless we have a patient who is psychotic enough to paint the walls with their poop.

Then we just make them take a shower and call housekeeping. Easy peasy :)

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Then when I decided to pursue my dream, I had a couple of people say, "Nursing?? Are you sure you can handle it?!" b/c they knew how squeamish I was. I talked to other nurses for input and they all said that you do get used to it.

1) You learn a lot of things in nursing school. IN nursing school. Don't listen to your brother about "Can you handle it?" You don't have to "handle it" now, unless you have your own kids or stay at the day care center, and you'll learn "handling" all sorts of things as part of acquiring the tricks of the trade in school.

2) It annoys me no end when so many people's first thoughts when they hear the word, "Nursing" have to do with "bedpan" or "vomit." Or maybe "rectal thermometers." It says more about them than about, well, nursing.

You know what, I would venture that on a complete percentage basis, the number of nursing-days in the US that have to do with either are pretty small. Sure, you work in an area with a lot of incontinence, you may see more. But seriously, it's not like in any possible nursing job you'll ever have you are going to spend all day, every day, with the sight and smell of feces in your work. In just about every nursing job I ever had, and "ever" is a loooong time, I can think of a lot of days, weeks, months, and years without it.

There is SO MUCH MORE to any nursing career than excreta and ejecta. As my sweet old grandmother used to say, "Don't borrow trouble."

[mecapon91]

Hi, thank you thats very helpful! I know that there is so much more to nursing than the icky stuff that people talk about a lot. That being said, I've also heard that nursing students often have to deal with a lot of it. But I am certain that exposure will help with my problem. I've heard a lot of tips and tricks, and I'm hoping that by the time I get to my first clinical I will have learned a lot so that its not as much of a problem for me and I'll be more confident.

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

One trick I learned from a long-time tech was this: it's really difficult to fully gag/hurl while humming. So...during a massive code brown...in a Posey bed....after someone had the infinite wisdom to remove an extremely altered patient's gown and put him in scrub pants and a sweatshirt instead...I got to practice. There were literally rivers of poo everywhere (lactulose); it took three staff and two full size trash cans to even begin to handle it. At first I couldn't think of what to hum...and then as the bed alarm in the next room went off, it came to me like a flash of divine insight: Mary Had A Little Lamb! Seriously though, it worked. I was truly impressed. I'm not a big gagger anyway, but this was truly a hazmat situation of epic proportions. Poor patient was combative to boot, so it got pretty graphic. So, if you don't have time for two masks or Vicks or toothpaste...just hum a little tune instead!

Edited to add....this floor had a lot of incontinent patients. Not all my rotations were like that...not even close. It was just a particularly epic night! Desensitization is a beautiful thing, though. :)