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.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I am eating my breakfast reading this thread....just so you know.

And Commuter- on another thread we learned that Bobby Flay has an excellent chipotle marinade that is DELICIOUS when eating one's young. You should try it- lower in sodium too!

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Yes, but have you been eaten yet?

Ha! Just can't GO there...

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I'll take butt wiping over feet flakes flying in my face any day

OMG, yes!! But in order to get the most out of it, the toenails need to be thick and crusty, and dark yellowish-orange. And LONG. :nailbiting:

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On my Instagram account the other day, a girl was talking about how there was a huge nursing shortage all of the USA. She made of list of reasons to become a nurse that included 1. The demand for new grads 2. The "boatloads" of money you make and 3. The fact that new grads can get hired into their specialities anywhere because of the shortage.

Instead of just minding my own business and moving along.... I made a comment. I should NOT have done that, lol!

I said- "There are only shortages of nurses in certain areas of the USA. Make sure to do your research first"

She responded to me- "Well I'm a Pre-Nursing student and from what I understand nurses are in high demand. That's all I ever see! So stop being negative and pleaseeeeee take a seat"

Yikes haha :) Taught me to never do that again!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Regarding dry feet: We have to check our patients' feet every month in dialysis per CMS requirements. You see hella gross things. I wear a face mask, so I don't breathe in the dry (snow) flakes coming off those feet when I peel off their socks. It really helps. Every job in nursing has its gross things. Feet are up there on the list for me. But mucus/suctioning, EWWW no thanks.

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It depends where you are coming from.

I will be starting my school in fall, currently working at retail and earning minimum wage.

I have two kids ,and i am living on all available funds.

My point is if you can make a decent living of the paycheck you get then why not??

I will be happy to wipe butts as long as i am not worried about my bills and i have my own small house.

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Specializes in hospice.
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.

This is absolutely the most entertaining essay dealing with fecal matter I've ever seen. Bravo. 👏

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On my Instagram account the other day, a girl was talking about how there was a huge nursing shortage all of the USA. She made of list of reasons to become a nurse that included 1. The demand for new grads 2. The "boatloads" of money you make and 3. The fact that new grads can get hired into their specialities anywhere because of the shortage.

Instead of just minding my own business and moving along.... I made a comment. I should NOT have done that, lol!

I said- "There are only shortages of nurses in certain areas of the USA. Make sure to do your research first"

She responded to me- "Well I'm a Pre-Nursing student and from what I understand nurses are in high demand. That's all I ever see! So stop being negative and pleaseeeeee take a seat"

Yikes haha :) Taught me to never do that again!

See, your mistake was in contradicting a Pre-Nursing Student. YOU obviously are not as informed as she is, and therefore should just keep your yap shut while the REAL experts tell it like it is ;)

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See, your mistake was in contradicting a Pre-Nursing Student. YOU obviously are not as informed as she is, and therefore should just keep your yap shut while the REAL experts tell it like it is ;)

So true!!! I guess I should leave it to the REAL experts ;) lol!

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On my Instagram account the other day, a girl was talking about how there was a huge nursing shortage all of the USA. She made of list of reasons to become a nurse that included 1. The demand for new grads 2. The "boatloads" of money you make and 3. The fact that new grads can get hired into their specialities anywhere because of the shortage.

Instead of just minding my own business and moving along.... I made a comment. I should NOT have done that, lol!

I said- "There are only shortages of nurses in certain areas of the USA. Make sure to do your research first"

She responded to me- "Well I'm a Pre-Nursing student and from what I understand nurses are in high demand. That's all I ever see! So stop being negative and pleaseeeeee take a seat"

Yikes haha :) Taught me to never do that again!

You should have directed her to Allnurses. That'd set her straight. :)

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Ok guys so I just stumbled on this thread and thought maybe you could offer me so advice. I am a second semester nursing student and have had to wipe a few butts and deal with some seriously flaking feet. How do I explain to my professor and clinical instructor that I am destined to be a nurse but these tasks need to be delegated to someone else. While I am at it, I don't think I should have to take any tests either b/c it's my calling to be a nurse and since I will it to happen every night the knowledge will just magically appear.......

Note the sarcasm but the truth is said in jest. I have heard conversations similar to this (not quite as dramatic) from several students. It amazes me that classmates don't understand that a minimum GPA doesn't bend because you "really" want to be a nurse. Rant over, this bothers me a lot if you can't tell.

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Who said they hate suctioning? I will suction any/all of your patients if you empty my patient's colostomy bags.

Love mucous and sputum. I even like charting about it...The words viscous, tenacious and copious feed my soul! Yes!

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