The one thing in nursing/medical that makes you shudder?

Nurses General Nursing

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I've seen, smelled, and have heard a lot over the years as I'm sure we all have. I will NEVER forget during a clinical when our professor was teaching us how to suction a trach. The sound alone made me gag not mention seeing the secretions enter into the cannister. Then the patient coughed and sputum flew across the room! From then on i dread any suctioning of secretions esp trach. I can handle vomit. I even love a great wound, smell doesn't bother me. But sputum is the #1 most dreadful shudder inducing thing i always hope to avoid.

So what is it that you absolutely cannot deal not with (even though you have to do it)?

Share your story!

Trachs/sputum make me want to puke. No thanks...

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Specializes in Community health.

I’ve had several adult patients recently with visibly loose teeth. I just Can Not. I think it’s because I have a minor dental phobia myself. I shudder and want to run away!

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Specializes in Community health.

Oh one more: I give a lot of bicillin injections and the needle is HUGE. It looks like a tent spike. I’m so matter of fact with the patients (“Oh it’s a big muscle back there and you don’t have many nerve endings there so it’s not bad!”) but once I walk out of the room I feel like I need to put my head between my knees.

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Specializes in retired LTC.
On ‎10‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 12:48 PM, lovingtheunloved said:

Hanging blood. I can walk into what looks like a crime scene and I’m fine, but something about the blood in the bag makes me feel like I’m going to pass out.

YES! I thought I was the only one who disliked blood hanging.

Like it's fake or phoney! Always seemed to be more slippery or slimey than REAL blood.

Personally, I HATED maggots in a wound. The wiggly, squiggly wormy things. I am getting the creeps just as I'm typing this post!

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Specializes in LTC.
On 10/19/2019 at 4:55 PM, Pepper The Cat said:

NG tubes. Hate them.

Just the thought of having to insert one nearly sends me into a panic.

This, and caths for me. Trachs are no big deal. I used to be terrified of them.

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Specializes in ER.

Anything gross I can tolerate. Patients and visitors that decide regular hospital rules don't apply to them for whatever reason really trigger me. Yes, you are sick, but everyone is sick here, and the rules are for everyone. Visiting hours, eating from the pantry, smoking...yes the rules are stretched sometimes, but a total disregard digs me. Being treated like a waitress or spa attendant...we run out of ice and warm blankets rapidly if there are q15min requests.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Certain wound smells! I can handle pretty much everything but man one time we had a patient with a foot wound and you can smell it down the whole hallway!

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Specializes in retired LTC.
7 hours ago, LunaO said:

Certain wound smells! I can handle pretty much everything but man one time we had a patient with a foot wound and you can smell it down the whole hallway!

Pseudomonas a. in wounds has a nasty smell. (Pretty blue-green color.) And it seemed worse if the pt was diabetic.

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