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?
What a relief to know that I am not alone! I have no clinical experience and am soooooooooooooo nervous about next semester. I don't like hospitals too much, but I know I have to get over it because I really want to be a nurse. I work in a lab and have to deal with poop, CSF, throat swabs, etc and that doesn't bother me at all. What gets me is vomit! When someone else starts puking, I start gagging. That's my biggest worry. I think I can deal with the other things....
I work in a lab and have to deal with poop, CSF, throat swabs, etc and that doesn't bother me at all. What gets me is vomit!
Interesting, I'm exactly the opposite...last night I handed a patient the emesis basin, and stood with him while he emptied his gutt, and it didn't bother me one, little bit. I just felt compassion. But the idea of handling stool, in any manner, makes me want to hurl, even after two kids!
I've read a couple posts on here about nurses daeling with patients that have MAGGOTS:eek: crawling out of wounds! I think if I saw something like this I'd vomit then and there! Other than that I pretty much have a stomach of steel. Louisepug
5th semester ADN stu here. I've had exactly 4 clinical days of OB, have viewed 4 epidural insertions (actually viewed 2 and averted my gaze of the second 2), and have passed out 4 times (twice in one day). I've tried for years to get through a single epidural on BirthDay (Discovery Health), had birthing tapes from the library (drop my gaze at the opportune moment). BM, urine, suction, wound care, blood, trach, odors are OK.
working 7p to 7a for Christmas Cookie money I picked up a tele shift at a really nice hospital. At 11 pm we all had to pick up two pateints from a nurse who was going home. OK, no problem.
I make my first rounds and I peek in to see my new patient......first mistake, no patient in bed, just a drip drip train from her bed to the bedroom that stopped at the bathroom, I look on the floor and there was the colostomy clip, right next to her bed. The pateint spoke no English, only Spanish which usually a problem. It was tonight because she was confused.
I think at this point saying draw yourself a picture should do nicely.
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!
I totally agree with you, that is what scares me the most - dead bodies. Ever since I was a child and went to my first "wake", it really freaks me out. Hopefully I will be there when the patient first passes on, and I won't have to see them discolored or anything. I will just have to deal with it, part of nursing, i know.
Worst thing I have encountered so far was a patient with uncontrollable diarrhea with C-diff infection :eek: . I learned how to breath through my mouth very effectively that day.
I'm scared that I won't be any good at starting I.V.'s. I'm also wondering how many times I'll have to faint when I first start doing them as I faint now every time they take blood. I hate this, but I'm determined to get over it. I am trying to watch every blood draw on Discovery Health that I can to help. I am also planning on seeing if I can donate blood so I can start just being around it, even though I realize it's different when it's ME performing the skill.
: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!
Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN
2,722 Posts
CCU you cracked me up!
Was reading down the thread, yucky thing after another, entry by entry, then BAM -- your little quip. :chuckle