I'm just starting out as a CNA, I just finished my first week of training. I'm going to school to be an LPN in the fall.
Today we went up on the floor for the first time, and I kind of had an anxiety attack. The smell kind of slapped me in the face, and my heart started racing and I felt sick. It took a while to get the feeling to go away, but it scared the heck out of me.
I'm fine with sight, I can handle people, I'm learning the material, but the smell gets me every time. Other's said I would get used to it, but I'm just so afraid I won't. And the thing is, I was only in the hall! What happens when I'm knee deep in, well you know.
Any advice? I'm not going to quit, even if I gagged every day. This is far too important to me. I'm just hoping for some encouraging words, and perhaps a trick or two!
I am a full time CNA and nursing school hopeful...... I was so bad about smells and sounds of gagging, that i would throw up everytime my kids would, i wouldnt even have to see it, just hear it or smell it. My first month or so of CNA work about killed me, but now i just try not to think about what i am doing when i have to clean someone or something up. All the tricks mentioned here really do work. I new i was gonna be ok the day i was cleaning someone up after they had vomited, and was telling another CNA, well no wonder they vomited, they didnt chew anything they ate. (And was actually naming off the chunks. ) So with time and a few tricks, you will be fine!
It's not that bad in itself, but when the major portion of what gets sucked out of your pt's stomach is mucus and it comes time to change his brimmin' full suction canister, there's something mighty motivating in the way the contents quiver on the trip to the red bag...
It's not that bad in itself, but when the major portion of what gets sucked out of your pt's stomach is mucus and it comes time to change his brimmin' full suction canister, there's something mighty motivating in the way the contents quiver on the trip to the red bag...
LOL, now thats a pretty image! One I will try to get out of my mind before dinner tonight......:trout:
Always carry in your pocket a Vicks Vapor inhaler, (insert into nostrils). I'm discreet when using it so as not to offend a patient.
Breathe through your mouth (really & truly works, but takes practice).
If donning a mask, tuck a tea bag inside of it. That one was taught to me by a nurse from long ago, and it's been a lifesaver many a time if I didn't have my Vick's inhaler....there are tea bags galore in the nutrition rooms, so remember to run in there and grab one or two!
Hope this helps ya & good luck, but I know you'll do fine. :wink2:
Always carry in your pocket a Vicks Vapor inhaler, (insert into nostrils). I'm discreet when using it so as not to offend a patient.
Breathe through your mouth (really & truly works, but takes practice).
If donning a mask, tuck a tea bag inside of it. That one was taught to me by a nurse from long ago, and it's been a lifesaver many a time if I didn't have my Vick's inhaler....there are tea bags galore in the nutrition rooms, so remember to run in there and grab one or two!
Hope this helps ya & good luck, but I know you'll do fine. :wink2:
The tea bag in the mask is new to me, does it have to be wet?
The tea bag in the mask is new to me, does it have to be wet?
Please excuse my ignorance.:smiletea2:
No, it should not be wet. It should be a dry one, (placed to the side and inside of your mask) and it will let you smell only the tea and not the gross smells you're trying to avoid. I always try to grab an orange pekoe or spiced tea bag since they smell awesome!
This might only work for me, I use Carmex for chapped lips, that comes in a tube, it has a menthol feel to it, costs about a dollar or so and you can put in on and no one knows but you! The only thing you smell is the carmex! Good luck with everything!~!
I want to thank everyone for the suggestions. I'm going to the store tonight to get some "supplies" for my nose!
At this point I think the anxiety of smelling the smell, is actually worse than smelling the smell. I've always had anxiety issues, I'm thinking I should seek some medical guidance on that one...but I've always thought that was the weak way out.
At any rate. I know I want to do this, I am DETERMINED to do this and I will do this. I just have to get past that odor.
I did figure out that I think it may be the polypropaline(not sure if that is how you spell it) they use in the dirty linen bags. That mixed with the dirty linens just gets me every time. Can that be an allergy? Or is that something you just have to adjust to?
Thanks everyone! I'll let you know how the ol' factory goes tomorrow!
The only smell that still gets to me is body odour. The nasty, haven't washed in over a month smell. And that is related to the finding that these people usually have bugs. I don't like bugs, and they cause me a lot of distress. Flees, maggots, bedbugs, crabs, lice, leaches. Ick!! That will get me running. These bugs all have a smell all their own and it just freaks me out. Give me a vented patient with pneumonia any day. Just don't come in crawling with bugs.
livesay
21 Posts
I am a full time CNA and nursing school hopeful...... I was so bad about smells and sounds of gagging, that i would throw up everytime my kids would, i wouldnt even have to see it, just hear it or smell it.
My first month or so of CNA work about killed me, but now i just try not to think about what i am doing when i have to clean someone or something up. All the tricks mentioned here really do work. I new i was gonna be ok the day i was cleaning someone up after they had vomited, and was telling another CNA, well no wonder they vomited, they didnt chew anything they ate. (And was actually naming off the chunks. ) So with time and a few tricks, you will be fine! 