The "one thing"

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I am not worried about most things that I am facing when I start nursing school next month, the long hours, complex subject matter, or high expectations. I AM worried about one thing that I will encounter when I enter clinicals... vomit.

I am so sorry to be gross, but I do not deal with vomit well (ashamed to say, not even my own children's). I am terrified that when I encounter this in school that no matter what my intentions are, that I won't be able to block it out and be as professional as I need to be (vomiting on my own is a REAL possibility)

I have talked to a couple of nurses about this, and they say that all nurses have "that one thing" that grosses them out, but eventually you get over it to where it is not a problem anymore. Has anyone else encountered something similar??

Again, I am so, so, so sorry for this subject matter, I just really need some advice. I am not naive enough to think, this won't happen to me, I am just trying to get prepared.

Thanks!

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I used to have the exact same problem. It stayed with me through childhood and ended during nursing school. A long time ago I couldn't even be in the same room as someone who even *thought* they were going to vomit or even watch someone faking it on television. I slowly desensitized myself by exposing myself to a little at a time. I didn't block myself from seeing it on television when it was fake and eventionally when it was real. Ultimately, that helped me, but everyone is different when it comes to handling their weakness so I'm sure someone else will give you some good tips to use.

I will say this, I was so excited with myself when I was able to hold up an emesis basin for a patient for the first time, lol. Also, try not to think too much about what is occurring. I still feel a lump in my throat with the burp sounds; however, I then shift my focus on how I can improve the individual's comfort level.

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My one thing is PUS..LOL Gross, I know..

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

PHLEGM.

The most disgusting substance to ever have exited the human orifice. I had to look at and record the color, amount, and consistency of an LTC patient's PHLEGM back during first semester ECF clincal. YUCK. I wanted to gag on the spot. Not much squicks me, but that does. You suck it up. Glance if you have to, so you can see what you are doing, but give it no more attention than that. Mind over matter.

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I haven't had the, uh, pleasure of vomit yet. I did ok with poop, but what really got me was suctioning trach tubes. OMG I wanted to die! I was so glad I had a mask on to sort of hide my gagging face :/

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Ugh, even just typing that out made me gag!

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Honestly, there are a few things that I'm not to excited about including vomit; but I know that I will get used to it and everything will be okay :) My one friend who is already in nursing school jokes that you know your a nursing student when you can talk about your rounds and patients ( all the details ) over lunch! LOL :lol2:

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Boogers and hockers. UGH. Literally make me gag. Never used to be like that, don't know where it came from. I actually haven't experienced a lot of vomit while in nursing school to be honest.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Truly spoken that most of all have some aversions in our careers. Lots of nurses dislike different body fluids or certain tasks (suctioning s a biggie). I knew a nurse who was grossed out by feet and toenails! Oh well, to each his own!

In my dinosaur hospital days, I hated to hang BLOOD PRODUCTS. Like it was phoney, make believe blood. YUCK! :no: I don't mind real blood blood from wounds or orifices, but now in LTC, I don't deal with any units of blood.

Don't ask me to remove sutures! And I don't like initial incisions, that first cut... Another YUCK:no::no: As you get more exposure and experience, things will change or you'll find a way to cope. Good luck

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Specializes in Oncology.

My "one thing" is kind of weird - penetrating injuries, especially concerning the eye. I have a weird fear of getting poked in the eye and becoming blind. I'm not really a fan of when I see a bone broken on TV either, even though it doesn't bother me to deal with ortho patients at all.

I don't know how to explain it, but when you're there taking care of a patient, you almost tune out what nasty thing they're doing or their body is excreting. It's much different seeing it in real life than in the media - special effects are so much nastier than what you normally encounter IRL in my opinion.

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Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

It's vomit for me, too. Cleaning up after my own kids or even hearing someone retch on tv makes me dry heave. I have worked on an ambulance for three years and although I haven't overcome the response yet, I get through it by chewing on a strong piece of gum on my way to every call (just in case) and breathing through my mouth. I can usually move out of line of sight of the patient until my initial reaction passes, then I'm fine.

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I think your professionalism will outshine your "gross out" limit. When I started I felt the same way about vomit but in the clinical setting you can't run from it or put on a sour face so you have to deal with it. After the first couple of episodes you'll start to ask yourself why it even bothered you in the first place. I promise you'll do fine if your focus is on the patient and you can block out everything else.

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