Threat of needle sticks!!

Epona · Jul 16, 2006

Thanks. Nope. I am hoping that by doing the BSN and working for a year to get a little experience then going MSN, I will by-pass all that hospital stuff. I don't mind the hospital and don't mind helping folks, but as I mentioned wiping up the poop, vomit, pee, etc. is not my thing. I am thinking that in a university setting you will get some clinical esperience, but not a lot of time in the hospital as you would in a hospital diploma program for example. So hopefully I will not have a ton of clincial hours in a hospital by going the BSN university route. I have heard the nursing students there have less clinical time. I am probably sounding like an oger here.

You know, I am just asking here, do the doctors have to do this poop and vomit and pee cleaning?? OR is that pretty much slated just for the nurses?? As I mentioned earlier... I would just go the medical school route, but for health reasons, cannot do the 36 hour residency shifts that the docs. have to pull.

I love medicine and have loved it for a long time... I am really torn here... :rolleyes:

Gabie Baby · Jul 16, 2006

Gee, is there other stuff to use needles for? LOL

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

Cleaning up poop and pee is not my thing either. It's just a part of the job. Mercifully, not a big part, but a part.

I think you're going to have to bite the bullet and realize that if you want to go to school, and want to work for a year, and want to become a NP, you're going to have to deal with the human condition, at least for the short term.

Keep your eye on your goals and don't worry about the human condition, because it's really not a big deal. You're blowing it out of proportion.

The majority of your BSN clindical time will be in the hospital. No way around that. Sorry to burst your bubble. The same with med school.

I've seen docs have to deal with the nasty stuff too from time to time.

BTW, you mentioned scapels didn't bother you but MDs cut themselves with scalpels as much as nurses stick themselves with needles so you should beware of that also.

Gabie Baby · Jul 16, 2006

Thanks. Nope. I am hoping that by doing the BSN and working for a year to get a little experience then going MSN, I will by-pass all that hospital stuff. I don't mind the hospital and don't mind helping folks, but as I mentioned wiping up the poop, vomit, pee, etc. is not my thing. I am thinking that in a university setting you will get some clinical esperience, but not a lot of time in the hospital as you would in a hospital diploma program for example. So hopefully I will not have a ton of clincial hours in a hospital by going the BSN university route. I have heard the nursing students there have less clinical time. I am probably sounding like an oger here.
You know, I am just asking here, do the doctors have to do this poop and vomit and pee cleaning?? OR is that pretty much slated just for the nurses?? As I mentioned earlier... I would just go the medical school route, but for health reasons, cannot do the 36 hour residency shifts that the docs. have to pull.
I love medicine and have loved it for a long time... I am really torn here...

It's just for us, Sweetie. Go to Med School. You'll make a whole lot more bucks and be a whole lot happier. And spare your potential future pts hours of lying around dirty, waiting for you to clean them up.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

I love medicine and have loved it for a long time... I am really torn here...

Maybe you should become a pharmacist instead. Takes same amount of time as a becoming a nurse practitioner.

Seriously. You are going to hate every minute of nursing school.

Gabie Baby · Jul 16, 2006

Wow! Everyone has been really helpful in shedding light on the threat of needle sticks. Thank you!
Ok... I am going to be really honest here.. from the last post tridil2000 mentioned a LOT of incidents can occur when working as a nurse. I am not doing that period. I am not cleaning poop or thick nasty secretions. Not doing it. Just not doing it.
What I envision myself doing is ordering tests, helping diagnose illnesses, talking to families, educating patients, etc. I do not see myself cleaning poop, cleaning up vomit, etc. I am not trying to be offsensive here at all, just stating that I am not doing that. I have been accpeted to nursing school for next spring so I still have time to back out. I was planning on going straight from RN to MSN to nurse practitioner. I would have gone right into medical school, but do to health limitations I cannot. But honestly, is that what you all do??? I do not want to be a floor nurse or work in a hospital!!! I honor you all for doing that, but that is not what I envision for myself....
HELP!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

At least you're being honest.

PhoenixGirl · Jul 16, 2006

You know, I am just asking here, do the doctors have to do this poop and vomit and pee cleaning?? OR is that pretty much slated just for the nurses??

No offense here, but if your that against hospital work because of bodily fluids, how do you expect to learn anything?

Doctors get puked on, have to dress nasty wounds, have to see pt's who poop themselves and have trach's, etc. How do you learn anything otherwise if you do not see these pt's?

Yes, a lot of nursing school is bookwork, but the real learning comes at clinical. And I wonder if fellow nurses will agree with me, but IMO the real learning comes when you graduate and you hit the floor and have to use your own critical thinking skills, and you don't have your instructor there right beside you. I mean how exciting to put down your first NG tube and get correct placement? Sure, the pt puked and spit up some while you did it, but aside from the bodily fluids, you are getting clinical experience and learning from it! What about the pt with the K level at 3.0 and you are cleaning up her diarrhea all day long. There is a disease process going on there, not just "poop."

The real learning comes *after* school is over. And how can you learn if you don't jump right in there and get in the clinical setting?

I have to say, I too was scared of all the gross stuff. but you really get used to it and after awhile it's just another day, no big deal.

Rebecca

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 16, 2006

Thank you everyone and I do appreciate your honesty here.
I know I will have to do a year or so of clincial and I can bare it for a year or so, BUT doing the poop cleaning and vomit cleaning and so forth for a life long career... no. I can bear it to "do my time" so to speak, but I do not want an everyday diet of it.
I am hoping to get my NP and work solely in a doctor's office. I want to educate, help diagnose, read stats and such. Again I think very highly of hosptial nurses and where would we be with out them, but that is not what I want to do.
No hospitals for me for the long hall- a year or so of clincial I can muster- but not for the long hall..... I am thinking in a docs. office I will have less exposure to poop and such here. Sorry.. I am just being honest.

I work in a doctors office as an MA while I go through nursing school. MDs NPs, PAs all do rectal checks, and prostate checks in our office. Infact, just yesterday I assisted with a Procto...the long metal rod with the suction and light, yeah...your never totally free from "poop" anywhere in the medical field. It does not mean you have to like it either. My skin has gotten thicker just in these last four years and as MA, I am sure it will get even thicker as a nurse:rotfl:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

I work in a doctors office as an MA while I go through nursing school. MDs NPs, PAs all do rectal checks, and prostate checks in our office. Infact, just yesterday I assisted with a Procto...the long metal rod with the suction and light, yeah...your never totally free from "poop" anywhere in the medical field. It does not mean you have to like it either. My skin has gotten thicker just in these last four years and as MA, I am sure it will get even thicker as a nurse:rotfl:

Very good point.

I think the OP is being very honest in expressing what it is she/he wants out of a career, and we're being realistic with the reality (hopefully in a nonjudgemental way). I'm sure he/she appreciates that.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

In 6 years of nursing, I have only gotten stuck twice during insulin pokes...lucky for me it was before hitting the patient so it was a clean stick! WHEW! And that was within my first year only when I worked in a hospital that was still on a needle system...now I only have to worry when I do injections or start an IV...we have gone needleless besides that.

I really take precautions, and really watch that needle carefully when I have to use them. When I have an uncovered needle my eyes are on that needle and I always say I have a sharps out to warn others not to bump me or the patient becomes aware that there is a needle exposed so be still. I hold my target area pretty tightly so that if a movement occurs I can typically withdraw if necessary or keep the needle in safely. It just takes practice.

Needles don't worry me as much as other dangers we don't consider as much. Open wounds, coughs, ostomy's and other areas we work with that can get into cuts or mucous membraines as we do our jobs. Those are the ones you have to be very aware of and use your universal precautions to your comfort level and safety. As they say...if it is wet, and not yours...cover up big time before working near/with it!

travelnurse63 · Jul 16, 2006

I can understand you rconcerns on needlesticks. I have been in all realms of nursing and have never had a "dirty stick" Actually I think you should be more worried about what you are exposed to on a daily basis ie: MRSA,Acinobacterio,Drug resistent TB,VRE,HIV, and Hep C just to name a few. The needleless system is pretty standard these days which reduces the risk. Keep in mind also that Universal Precautions are in place to reduce the risk of transmission of diseases. Just protect yourself, follow the rules and you will be okay. Enjoy your career and Make A Difference in others life!

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

Maybe you should become a pharmacist instead. Takes same amount of time as a becoming a nurse practitioner.
Seriously. You are going to hate every minute of nursing school.

i was thinking more in the line of med assist.

i am in an np program now and have 20 years ed and cc experience. i really embarrass these people who want to walk right through from the bsn program. they know nothing and i have zero respect for them. i'm just being honest as well.

i would never want a doctor taking care of a pt who skipped their residency. i feel the same way about advanced practice nurses. you HAVE to get experience to know what's going on, and school alone doesn't cut it.

and no matter what letters follow my name, i would never let some one sit in their own vomit or feces. patients are people, and someday you too will be one.

tridil2000

rn bsn (msn student) cen ccrn