Stank Face during Clinical: How to prevent?

[hepnande]

I know I am a very expressive person, but I love people and I know I am doing a duty when cleaning an individual during clinicals. I didn't notice until my last simulation during fundamentals that I have a stank face when dealing with bodily fluids. This is not phlegm or bile liquids, more like poop and pee. Its hard because inside I am like this person really needs my help, how could people just leave them like this, but my face is like a train hit it with emotions. I dont want to hurt my patients feelings . Can someone help and assist without suggesting botox ?

Thanks,

StankFace Nursing Student

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

It requires a lot of practice. I have a bad case of RBF and I have a very expressive face as well. I just had to keep reminding myself at the start of clinical and throughout that I needed to "fix my face." It just takes time. Also, you can wear a mask while cleaning someone and that will help you practice remembering to "fix your face" without feeling like you're offending someone.

[ClaraRedheart, BSN, RN]

Ace of Hearts has a GREAT suggestion. Try a mask and essential oil! A drop of peppermint oil in a mask and you won't smell a darn tootin' thing. I used to wear something like this: 1 Glass ELEPHANT tiny little animal bottle vial necklace pendant Screw Top | eBay back when I was a nursing student and tech and needed to have peppermint oil on me all the time just in case. Hadn't developed a stomach of steel yet. I keep a bottle of it in my locker now for extreme days... such as very active C-Diff patient, manual disimpaction, etc... Don't need it nearly as much as I used to. Best of luck!

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

Sometimes its helpful to breath through your mouth. Also realise that our reactions can have a huge impact on how our patients are dealing with the situation.

I jokingly call mine "my nursey therapeutic poker face' the neutral expression I wear when inside I'm thinking "holy crap, holy crap, holy crap"

[ngiam12, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Hey hepnande!

I also have the pleasure of an overly expressive face, both in "real" life and as a nurse! Don't worry, this too you will get a handle on. Also, please disregard people who are making less than helpful comments... they don't have the pleasure of having vibrant facial expressions!

So some things that have been helpful for me are: 1) Vicks vapo rub in your nostrils (I know, not recommended by the instructions), 2) recalling disturbing situations to my peers in private, away from my instructor to help you "desensitize" to the action of cleaning bodily fluids (you know, during lunch with your school bestie), and 3) trying to relax my face before I go into a room - a good time to do this is when you're sanitizing your hands! We all sanitize, so take those seconds to consciously think about your face! I feel ya! Nursing school clinicals were rough in that aspect!

ngiam

[hepnande]

Thank you :). Yes it is rough. This is my second career. I am usually very smiley, but my nose is like a dogs nose. I can smell things before anyone else. :S I am going to have issues when I get pregnant, for now I just have to get through clinicals. I can't stress to people that in my head I think about how sad I am for the patients I am helping, but my face is very reactive. But I am confident I can get through this.

[Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN]

Like other posters have suggested, I would carry a mask with you and either Vicks or some essential oil. You can pick up disposable masks at the Dollar Tree if they aren't available for you at the hospital. I have done similar in my current job (aesthetician) when a client has terrible breath or something like that. I always take the "blame", as it were, and say I have a slight cough or something and don't want to spread my germs. That has the added bonus of the client/patient thinking you're extra thoughtful protecting them from your germs!

[marienm, RN, CCRN]

I agree that watching your facial expression takes work & is important. For SOME patients, I find that simply acknowedging the situation helps, too. Especially with ostomies (ostomys? now neither looks right!). If the patient comments on the smell, I usually say something like "well, I haven't met anyone yet whose poop doesn't smell!" I try to be really matter of fact about it...I'm not going to lie and tell them it doesn't smell at all because clearly I would seem like an untrustworthy idiot if I said that! But I don't dwell on it with them, either. This pouch is part of their reality now, and they need to get to a place of being able to deal with it on their own (usually) rather than being disgusted by it.

[sugar'n'spice]

Ace of Hearts has a GREAT suggestion. Try a mask and essential oil! A drop of peppermint oil in a mask and you won't smell a darn tootin' thing. I used to wear something like this: 1 Glass ELEPHANT tiny little animal bottle vial necklace pendant Screw Top | eBay back when I was a nursing student and tech and needed to have peppermint oil on me all the time just in case. Hadn't developed a stomach of steel yet. I keep a bottle of it in my locker now for extreme days... such as very active C-Diff patient, manual disimpaction, etc... Don't need it nearly as much as I used to. Best of luck!

I am not in nursing school quite yet, but I feel like you have just saved my life. This is such a great idea! I have a small fear of my weak stomach getting to me when it all starts. Plus, I've had some nurse friends mention the peppermint oil, but here, I feel you "confirmed" it too, and even gave me the necklace idea! Thank you!