Weird question about poo....

caliotter3 · Feb 5, 2012

Best way to desensitize yourself is to become a CNA and get a job in a LTC facility. It shouldn't take long for you to get used to it, or to decide that the poo is just too much for you. But before you give up on nursing, you should consider that 100% of the job is not poo related.

Jfarmboy · Feb 5, 2012

I am neither a Nurse,LPN,CNA, or student.

I am planning on going for my CNA and the RN though.

I do know that I don't have any fear of such things...however it may stink to carry out such things.

Heck when we younger a diaper was the funnest thing. Whoever it "opened" on got to clean it up.

I came from a family of 10 so cleaning up from vomit and other accidents wasn't too hard.

girlswcurls · Feb 5, 2012

Yes, I am going for my CNA now to get a feel for what is yet to come. I just wondered if anyone else had this same weird feeling. It's not going to change my mind about being a nurse... it's just the only thing that I kind of hesitate on being comfortable with.

Vomit, blood, urine... no problem. Poo- ugh....

IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN · Feb 5, 2012

This is kind of a silly question.... but I wondered if anyone who is a nurse or current nursing student gets sick at the thought of dealing with poo. I have changed a lot of diapers, babies, toddlers etc... and I know for an absolute fact that the older the person is...the more wretched the smell can be.
Is this something that you become desensitized to after doing it numerous times? I am fine with blood, breaks, urine etcs. It's the fecal matter that scares me.
I start nursing school in 2013, and definitely will not let the poo get in the way of my RN, but it is something that has crossed my mind. I would be so embarassed if I gagged or something changing someone and would NEVER ever want to embarass a patient. Please put my mind at ease and tell me that it isn't so bad after the first 30 changes.
Thanks!!!

Just finished my CNA training (complete with clinicals!), and, yeah you're gonna be dealing with endangered feces from time to time. Most people gag the first few times, but it's surprising how fast you get used to it. A little dab of Vicks's VapoRub on the underside of the nose works wonders for smell control, as do menthol coughdrops. Visuals - sorry, it's not the most pleasant stuff to work with. However, you'll probably find that there are other things in the profession that'll getcha - for me, it's dentures. Floating foogies in the pts denture cup - blecch!

Short version is - you tend to adapt over time, but never completely. When you get your first case of c diff - you'll know. Best of luck to ya!

----- Dave

Yourapple82 · Feb 5, 2012

I've been a CNA for over 5 years and will be starting nursing school soon myself. I can tell you as previously stated nursing is not 100% poo but you will have to deal with it -probably on a daily basis- if not helping your CNA/Tech clean up a patient, it may be collecting a sample to send to the lab.

Either way, I can say it's not a smell you get used to but you definetley learn to ignore it. Some adults have really bad smelling poo but I've also worked in Peds and nothing smells worse than Rota Virus. I carry some peppermint oil in my pocket to dab under my nose or altoids. I use those when I know I'm about to encounter a potential stinky poo moment and it helps :-) My weakness is vomit, not the smell so much as the slimy-ness....lol we all have our things. Good luck!

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2012

This post cracked me up. Just made me remember an experience in clinical last semester. A patient, my classmates, had diarrhea everywhere and as my classmate was trying to to remove a chuck pad loaded with this special treasure and she almost puked on her way to the trash can and the look on her face was priceless. The point is we still did our job quiet and calm and just had a good stress-relieving laugh afterward very far away from the floor :)

lrobinson5 · Feb 5, 2012

I feel that I can do any task with gloves on. I don't know... something about the extra barrier is really comforting to me. Also, clean it ASAP. Nothing is worse than helping a patient that has been sitting in it for a long time. Way better when it just happened. You really do get used to it. Focus on the task, get it done as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Good luck!

writed · Feb 5, 2012

It's hard to predict sometimes how you will react in a given situation - or to a particular substance - until you've actualy been exposed to it. I think it's a normal thing to wonder about. Props to you for recognizing that an overt reaction on your part may be embarrasing for the patient. I think you'll be fine.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Feb 5, 2012

If you ever do become an RN, you will soon learn that the LEAST scary thing you will deal with is poo.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Feb 5, 2012

I had a pt last semester that pooped EVERYWHERE - down the side of the bed, into the bed rails, in his socks, etc (you get the idea) - cleaned him and the room up but couldn't understand why the room still stunk (stunk down the hall so bad as soon as you got off the elevator you'd hear "man what smells like $hit around here") anyway I went to throw away a wrapper and realized the guy hit the trash can!!!! Nothing has bothered me since!

K+MgSO4, BSN · Feb 5, 2012

Yup poo is not the worse thing to come out of a patients rear! fresh blood coming out while your patient's eyes are rolling back in his head is waayyyyy worse!