The Icky Thing You Dread The Most

I've been working in a hospital, and have patient contact every day. Many sounds, sights, and smells I've gotten used to, but there are a couple things I will come face to face with in nursing that will take a lot of conditioning to get past. For those of you who are starting your program in January, and have never had any clinical exposure, do you know some of the things you've signed up to do every day? Consider these: inserting and maintaining foley catheters, handling colostomy bags, handling urine, blood, feces, vomit and sputum, maintaining tracheostomies (some are really ugly, dried blood, etc.), irrigating and maintaining ugly wounds, and caring for bodies after death. I don't mean to horrify, but rather to bring up the reality of the job. So now, back to the question. What things will you have to develop a 'thick skin' towards during your training, and beyond?

[mitchsmom]

inserting and maintaining foley catheters, handling colostomy bags, handling urine, blood, feces, vomit and sputum, maintaining tracheostomies (some are really ugly, dried blood, etc.), irrigating and maintaining ugly wounds, and caring for bodies after death.

hmmmm... I think the worst for me will be those with accompanying aromas or anything projectile that is harder to control & protect yourself from :) I think blood, wounds, catheters, and the dead will be easier for me to tolerate than poop and puke. I've become relatively tolerant to puke and poop here at home with three little boys but it's a far sight different with other people.

[Nurse2bSandy]

I got somewhat desensitized to the smells and to actually cleaning the poopy messes, but the sputum was ICCK! to me. I had one guy with a trach that oozed mucus... ICCK! That got me every time!

[Carolanne]

Somehow the odors get to me the most. I can handle bed pans, vomit, nasty wound dressings, etc., but sometimes if I'm just walking down the hall arriving for clinical or returning from meal break, if I smell a "fresh specimen", I feel my stomach flip. I think it's maybe because it's unexpected and it hits me. If I KNOW I'm going to empty a bed pan or look at a nasty wound or colostomy bag, I've already prepared myself mentally and it doesn't bother me.

[raynefall]

Originally posted by EyesForward

What things will you have to develop a 'thick skin' towards during your training, and beyond?

The main thing for me is smelly feet, I can handle all of the things you listed but the stinky feet really get me. During clinicals I was checking my pt's dorsal pedis pulse and I had to take off her socks.....well I damn near gagged I tried to hold in my breath but *ugh* that was the worst, the smell stayed with me throughout the day. Don't underestimate the power of stinky feet!

[Luv2banurse2004]

I am starting in Jan. & have no prior clinical experience. As of today, I don't consider myself as having a weak stomach, so I think I'll be able (after several exposures) to deal with wounds, sputum, etc. The thing that really, really scares me are dead bodies. Just have a huge fear. Its creepy to be in the room with one, but to touch them :chair: I know this from experience when my grandma died at home (under hospice care) last year from cancer. Bm, urine, etc. wasn't bad, but after she died and we had her there for 1 1/2 hours waiting for the funeral home to pick her up, I could look at her but couldn't touch her. I really think I'll be able to overcome this fear. I keep reminding myself of things I'll see, touch, smell...etc. That's all I can do for now and pray that I can handle the reality!

[nurse2be in ny]

Causing people physical pain is what I'll have to become (somewhat) desensitized to. Right now, just the thought of hurting someone makes my skin crawl. I can draw blood on people, no problem, and I don't think giving injections will bother me, but the more heavy-duty procedures will bother me, especially with kids.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Suctioning a patient will probably be the hardest thing for me. I have a real hard time with icky sputum. Just the sound of suctioning a patient makes me gag.

[CCU NRS]

eating the food from the cafeteria

[CCU NRS]

Originally posted by Luv2banurse2004

I am starting in Jan. & have no prior clinical experience. As of today, I don't consider myself as having a weak stomach, so I think I'll be able (after several exposures) to deal with wounds, sputum, etc. The thing that really, really scares me are dead bodies. Just have a huge fear. Its creepy to be in the room with one, but to touch them :chair: I know this from experience when my grandma died at home (under hospice care) last year from cancer. Bm, urine, etc. wasn't bad, but after she died and we had her there for 1 1/2 hours waiting for the funeral home to pick her up, I could look at her but couldn't touch her. I really think I'll be able to overcome this fear. I keep reminding myself of things I'll see, touch, smell...etc. That's all I can do for now and pray that I can handle the reality!

First and most important this is not an unreasonable fear!

Secoond remember the Pt is not your Grandmother, and while you will certainly have a sentimental investment when your Pts die you will learn to cope with it and push yourself forward because you are also there for the family members. You will think about how they want to remember their grandmother and you will want to make this time easier and help them cope by doing what is necessary to prepare the Pt for veiwing by the family. You will also never be taking care of a Body you will be providing care for your Pt if your Pt has expired they are no less your Pt and you will continue to care for them to the best of your ability.

It helps me through my own belief system that I feel that when a soul is released from the bonds of earth they no longer feel pain or grief or spite or envy or anything opther that immediate and complete realization of how utterly rediculous their worries on earth were and how blissful thier immediate future will be!

[Luv2banurse2004]

Originally posted by CCU NRS

First and most important this is not an unreasonable fear!

Secoond remember the Pt is not your Grandmother, and while you will certainly have a sentimental investment when your Pts die you will learn to cope with it and push yourself forward because you are also there for the family members. You will think about how they want to remember their grandmother and you will want to make this time easier and help them cope by doing what is necessary to prepare the Pt for veiwing by the family. You will also never be taking care of a Body you will be providing care for your Pt if your Pt has expired they are no less your Pt and you will continue to care for them to the best of your ability.

It helps me through my own belief system that I feel that when a soul is released from the bonds of earth they no longer feel pain or grief or spite or envy or anything opther that immediate and complete realization of how utterly rediculous their worries on earth were and how blissful thier immediate future will be!

CCU NRS thanks for reassuring me that my personal fear is a normal one! Excellent point that even an expired patient is still my patient. No doubt, having cared for them, I would want to make sure their families can see them in a dignified way and I do believe my own experiences will help me on some level identify with families. Thanks so much! I know the nurse in me can overcome! :kiss

[Sheri257]

Originally posted by CCU NRS

eating the food from the cafeteria

LMAO!:roll