The dirty work?

caliotter3 · Feb 13, 2009

If you don't want to be subject to these unpleasant tasks you should avoid nursing. Somewhere along the line you will encounter things that are not pleasant, it is unavoidable. You should become a nursing assistant and do some work as a nursing assistant for a period of time before you decide that nursing is not for you.

suzy253, RN · Feb 13, 2009

Yes, you'll be involved in all that type of stuff...even blood. You'll be seeing people at their most vulnerable on a daily basis. Good luck in what you decide

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

Yeah I have to say that some areas have more of that then others but they all have some.......I am in psych and we get people --new nurses and techs who come to psych thinking they won't have to do things that are......well, less then pleasant........yeah maybe not AS MUCH ...BUT.....guess what older folks with incontinence get mental illness......pscyh patients get sick and vomit.......and well actually psych patients, usually geriatric, are known from time to time to even PLAY with their poop and cover themselves from head to toe in it!! LOL And they have colostomy bags, and bad sacral ulcers and so forth---and psych is one area people think they can be a nurse and not have to deal with yucky stuff...........but even if you have great techs.... as the nurse you do have to still help sometimes of even have to take care of things on your own sometimes........It's part of the job! But I will say that you do get used to it.

So you will have to think about that before you decide on nursing........

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2009

I was starting an IV on someone who was having a heart attack in the CCU and he suddenly sat up and projective vomited on everyone surrounding the bed. What a mess! The good thing about it was the hospital supplied us all with surgical scubs to wear for the rest of the shift. And, we saved the guy, too. It really was rather exciting.

inland18mempire · Feb 14, 2009

you will encounter poop, vomit, etc here and there. honestly, though, the CNAs take care all of that. the hospital does not pay an RN to do the "dirty work" persay. You'll be consumed by mostly paperwork.

luvmy2angels · Feb 14, 2009

you will encounter poop, vomit, etc here and there. honestly, though, the CNAs take care all of that. the hospital does not pay an RN to do the "dirty work" persay. You'll be consumed by mostly paperwork.

WOW!! Just a side note, CNAs will be very appreciative to those RN's that don't feel they are above "dirty work"!! :uhoh3:

The main goal is to make sure the pt gets the best care possible, if that means i have to clean up a poopy mess or hold someone's head while they vomit.....I'm gonna do it. CNAs, LPNs, RNs ALL get paid to provide the best care possible to the pt, even if it means YOU have to clean up poop or vomit!!

I once had an RN scold me for picking up a towel that was on the floor. She told me to put it back and get an aide to do that, it wasn't MY job!! I'm sorry, but if you act like that you won't last anywhere!!

viablecalifornialove · Feb 14, 2009

No one really answered my question specifically. How often on a day to ay basis does an RN encouter that part of the job? Is that what mostly entails a RNs duty to clean up bodily fluids and the patient?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 14, 2009

no one really answered my question specifically. how often on a day to ay basis does an rn encouter that part of the job? is that what mostly entails a rns duty to clean up bodily fluids and the patient?

you got a lot of good answers.

it depends upon your specialty. clinic nurse probably don't clean up a whole lot of body fluids and most clients are responsible for toileting themselves, but you do get the occaisional client who can't help vomiting on your shoes. icu and er nurses seem to spend most of their day dealing with one fluid or another. you're going to encounter poop, pee, blood, sputum, vomit, semen and possibly other fluids of dubious origin before you're through school. most of us get used to it; some don't. decide how important that aspect of the job is going to be to you and chart your course accordingly.

specifically, i've cleaned up two loose stools, one large emesis and suctioned out a breathing tube six or seven times and it's only halfway through my shift. last night, i didn't clean up any bodily fluids but did encounter a lot of blood with my hourly blood draws on each of my two patients. the night before last, i wasn't busy so i ended up helping everyone on the unit clean up their poop, pee, vomit and bloody messes. your milage may vary.

suanna · Feb 14, 2009

you will encounter poop, vomit, etc here and there. honestly, though, the CNAs take care all of that. the hospital does not pay an RN to do the "dirty work" persay. You'll be consumed by mostly paperwork.

I don't know where you work but I want a job there!!!!

kcochrane · Feb 14, 2009

If that is an important consideration for you, then maybe you need to rethink nursing. That being said, it is possible that if this bothers you now, it may not bother you later. I don't think anyone goes into nursing liking bodily fluids . If you are really into helping people than you will need to understand that cleaning them up is a part of that. Not trying to be nasty but realistic.

Your question really can't be answered...it depends on the facility, the type of nursing etc. In some facilities, RNs have to do patient care along with meds. In some facilities, they will be swamped with paperwork. You could always talk to nurses involved in the type of work you think you might want to do and see what kind of "typical" day they have.

Good luck whatever you do. :)

Serlait · Feb 14, 2009

From my limited experience, most students graduate and spend at least a short period of time working "in the weeds" before moving on to management. I am working as a Clinical Assistant in a local hospital while in school, and very few of the RN's are unwilling to pitch in and wipe a bum or hold the emesis basin, or assist with a bedpan. Patient welfare comes first. I would really encourage you to shadow a nurse for a week or so to be sure it's what you're interested in doing. It take a lot of hard work and effort to get through school and you'll want to be happy with that investment when you're done. One good thing about nursing is that it is so wide open. There are many different ways to go.

Do be aware though, that dealing with bodily fluids may not come naturally, but it doesn't mean you wouldn't be an excellent nurse. I had some worries about dealing with bodily fluids, because of the uncertainty. I mean, I'd cleaned up after my own children, but there is always the question, "Can I do this for a stranger?" The answer I have found for myself is yes. And the yes is because the patient needs you. The day I knew for sure, I walked into a room in answer to a bell and the patient was in tears because she couldn't get to the tiolet in time, and had diarrhea all over herself, the toilet, the floor, and the bed. She was extremely humiliated that this had happened. She was so vulnerable, yet so sick, and needed me to be a professional and get her taken care of while preserving her dignity. There was no longer a question. Her need trumped my fears many times over. Nursing is a calling, and a privilege. The first time I saw a patient come back from the OR, still woozy, and extremely vulnerable, I was overwhelmed by the understanding that patients are literally placing their lives in our hands and it is a true privilege to have that trust. But the trust comes with all the warts and bumps, including the bodily fluids. Good luck with your decision. Let us know what you decide.