Want to be a nurse, just no butt wiping or other yucky stuff please

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Just a heads up to inquiring people who read this site. Nursing involves butt wiping, blood, snot, urine, etc. An RN by your name doesn't mean others deal with yucky realities of patient care.

Also, you will likely have to pay your dues job wise. You probably won't waltz into your dream job straight out of school. And, whatever job you get, you WILL work your rear end off.

I am a (hopeful) nursing student. Waiting in my acceptance letter. I love love this thread! I cannot tell you how many students complain about the smell or look of a specimen we are about to cut into in anatomy. It always makes me wonder how they will handle an actual patient.

As far as the "feet flakes" I had not even thought about that, but a great tip! Lol!

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This thread is crap.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I am a (hopeful) nursing student. Waiting in my acceptance letter. I love love this thread! I cannot tell you how many students complain about the smell or look of a specimen we are about to cut into in anatomy. It always makes me wonder how they will handle an actual patient.

As far as the "feet flakes" I had not even thought about that, but a great tip! Lol!

Real patients don't smell nearly as bad as anatomy. Mostly. Usually.

Well, maybe I'm wrong.

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Specializes in CVICU CCRN.

I've always wondered if the seasoned nurses season the young before eating them or if they just go after them raw and bleating.

Inquiring minds.....

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Specializes in CVICU.
This happened to me last night! Lesson learned: don't yank off socks, it was like fresh falling snow :no:

I usually do it as slow as possible but when they're like to the extreme there is no way to avoid it. I try to hold my breath until they stop flying but today it was too much and may have inhaled a few ugh hahahaha

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Specializes in CVICU.
Real patients don't smell nearly as bad as anatomy. Mostly. Usually.

Well, maybe I'm wrong.

I'm a nursing student that does clinicals at a HUGE hospital where most of the population are homeless. Give me some formaline anyday

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"Pay dues?! Whatever do you mean......Wait! Are you saying I will NOT graduate at 22 y/o holding a shiny new BSN and immediately be hired in the ER to train as a charge nurse?! Because in school they said I would be manager within 2 years!!!"

Lol, I honestly blame to school programs. They teach so much delegation, new nurses just assume there's always someone to delegate to so they avoid the dirty work. smh.

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Real patients don't smell nearly as bad as anatomy. Mostly. Usually.

Well, maybe I'm wrong.

Uhm, I can think of one

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I've always wondered if the seasoned nurses season the young before eating them or if they just go after them raw and bleating.

Inquiring minds.....

I personally like them fried and served up with some Lawry's seasoning salt. :p
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One of my long-gone repulsive fears was digitally assisting a constipated person. Naturally, in every patient group I was assigned (while I worked acute care after 17 years in psych and chemical dependency) was obstipated or constipated.

That first time I really got someone CLEANED OUT, with a bed pan full of steaming poop and half a box of medium sized gloves poking out of the poop like sad flags -- I FELT GOOOOOOD.

I didn't want to stop! Wait, just let me get that one wayyyy up there . . .

Now I always 'dreaded' disimpaction but once I got going . . . I had a dam fine routine. Just ask me. And those 6H enemas to get rid of bloating and gas? I was a natural at that, too. I loved raising that enema bucket and then -- insert dramatic music of your choice -- dropping it to the floor and watching those fart bubbles come roaring out. The patients' relief was nearly as profound as my own.

Another situation that I displayed innate talent for handling poop in all forms came when I was in charge a few years ago and was called into a room by one of the RNs. Her patient, an ambulatory man in his 50s was working through his gallon of GoLytely and made it into his bathroom just in time to bend over and shoot bloody liquid poop straight backward to splash the wall, the back of the toilet before he could get his rear end on the bowl. The bloody liquid poo was very foul, and the RN was heaving (and trying not to) and the amount of it that missed the bowl was considerable. I sent her to clean up the patient and comfort him, he was humiliated, and I set about to managing the mess in the bathroom. I felt like a G.D'd hero, people!

There is great potential in poop, facing it with courage; you don't know what you are made of, as a nurse, until you conquer poop.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Heh, if we are telling war stories.... I had an instructor who I think wanted to try to weed us out, he must have misinterpreted me. He gave me poop patient my first day of clinical for my first bed bath. She was head to toe covered in poop, and was sitting there eating it. Dementia sucks.

I'm the oldest of 5, I took care of my bed bound grampa prior to this. I go in there with a bucket of warm soapy water and a roll of wash clothes. I handled it by wrapping her hands first with wash clothes so she couldn't grab more poop. By the time I got through with her...she was sparkling. I was proud that day, not only because I know she had to feel better after I cleaned her, but also the look on the instructors face that I had handled it and not tried to hide.

Now had he given me a nasty frothing trach to suction....well, things may have been different...ugh!

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Specializes in ICU.

I would rather handle poop over a mucous and phlegm anyday

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