I just started my clinical rotations within the last two months. I know there's a student section but I wanted to get working nurses opinions. What is the worst procedure or patient care activity that you have to perform?
I can do blood, smells, poop, even puke after it is out but I really don't like the sound of vomiting. I recently watched NG tube placement. It was pretty bad. I hope they aren't all that nasty and I hope that's one of the worst things I have to do to a patient.
Please tell me what is the worst thing you have to do at your position and if you have any suggestions for me I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
For me the worst part is sometimes the duplicate/triplicate charting I must do----we are months away from computer charting, and I am so excited, I really hope it helps.
I have said many times, I wish I could just take care of my patient and then have a secretary do my charting--just someone to follow me around who documents all I do---wouldnt that be a dream??
Honestly -- how much gross things do you do on a daily basis, like cleaning poop and that nasty stuff that would make someone with a weak stomach want to puke?
I hate it when the pain meds don't work. It it X hours from when you can give more and the doctor won't prescribe anything else (usually for a good reason).
The worst part for me is the constant interruptions. Very rarely do a complete a task start to finish without interruption. Call lights, doctors, and my phone rings non-stop. Computer charting is nice but 5 minutes of charting can take 30 when I have to log out and log back in each time I have to step away.
Give me festering wound or trach care w/ copious sputum secretions any day, just as long as my phone doesn't ring!
I hate trachs. I hate sputum. I hate GI bleed poop. I hate pseudomonis wounds, or really any wound that stinks.
Most of it isn't bad, it just takes getting used to. It definitely benefits prenursing or nursing students to work as NACs or something before being a nurse... because I KNOW my NACs deal with more unpleasent physical things than I do and you REALLY need to respect your aids. The best way to do this? Know what they're job is really like.
I feel like many of my coworkers are worse than any patient care activity. I would gladly disempact/suction/pack a tunneled down bed sore rather than listen to them criticize and chastise other coworkers (who knows what they say about me). I went into nursing to take care of people, not listen to peers degrade my profession and themselves/eachother for 12 hours straight. (end rant now...lol)
Amen to this. Fecal matter, bodily eliminations -- I don't care. It's just natural and normal stuff and people can't help it. I'm glad to clear a trach if it increases someone's ability to breathe -- I mean -- what would they do if we didn't do it? They'd suffocate. They have to poop and pee just like I do -- I mean, that could be me someday laying in that hospital bed, feeling sick and a dog and needing the help of a caring nurse.
Now, nasty co-workers? Much worse, much nastier, much more unpleasant and dare I say -- hurtful. Yucky stuff is just yucky -- but nasty co-workers (and managers included) hurt your SOUL.
GREEN PHLEM...OCCASIONAL CHUNKY VOMITUS...gets me everytime. As another person said trach suctioning also changing trach dressings GAG! I just cannot cope with PHLEM. Any other procedure is tolerable for me even impactions
What gives me the willies is removing tape from a hairy arm, leg, or groin area. No, the area is not usually shaved--and if it is, not enough. Some tape is bound to find it's way onto hair. I try to be gentle or use tape remover but I always seems to find some hair to pull out--and by golly it hurts! EEEWWWW:crying2:
What gives me the willies is removing tape from a hairy arm, leg, or groin area. No, the area is not usually shaved--and if it is, not enough. Some tape is bound to find it's way onto hair. I try to be gentle or use tape remover but I always seems to find some hair to pull out--and by golly it hurts! EEEWWWW:crying2:
I'm not even a nurse yet but that is going to bother me too!!
When I have to take off my dads bandaid on his hairy arm i HATe it -- my hands get all weak!!
But as a student/GN- being treated badly by nurses, for whatever reason. Some of them I completly understand. It just really sucks when someone you want to look up to and learn from makes you feel like dirt.
I second that!
racing-mom4, BSN, RN
1,446 Posts
For me the worst part is sometimes the duplicate/triplicate charting I must do----we are months away from computer charting, and I am so excited, I really hope it helps.
I have said many times, I wish I could just take care of my patient and then have a secretary do my charting--just someone to follow me around who documents all I do---wouldnt that be a dream??