What can you tolerate the least?

[Infofreak411]

I've heard that every nurse has their one thing that they don't like and grosses them out and they don't like dealing with. What is your one thing?

For me it would be vomit! I cannot stand vomit!

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

Eyeballs and sputum. I used to hate ear wax but have come to terms with it and find it oddly satisfying to get a huge chunk of impacted wax.

A while back we went out to our favorite Mexican joint and my son and husband (I can't remember whose idea it was) got the brilliant idea to get their straws and suck the last bits of salsa out of the bottom of the bowl. It sounded EXACTLY like a trach being suctioned and I had to get up and walk away, told them, "I'm out. When y'all are done being gross come find me. I can't handle it." They thought I was crazy but clearly neither has suctioned a trach.

Lancing boils, now....THAT is some high-class entertainment. My favorite thing ever.

My kids slurp their green smoothies to the end that way. Sounds just like trach auctioning. I can't handle that noise at home.

[silverbat]

anything to do with eyes, except ointments and eye drops... AND once I almost passed out when a huge cyst erupted green goop everywhere!!!!!. Can't handle those at all....suctioning, no problem, vomit and BM, usually not an issue...ABSOLUTELY no "bugs" in wounds, leeches/maggots...GAG

[ohiobobcat]

The maggot infested lower leg wound I cared for (from home). And the smell of the boot the patient wore on that draining, maggot infested leg wound for God knows how long. I bagged it up and threw it out the back door (the boot, not the leg!!). I couldn't eat rice for a while after that one.

I also usually love traumas, but one guy came in with a absolutely mangled hand (hand vs. snow blower), and for some reason, I had a hard time with that one. I was pretty glad when the doc wrapped that one up quickly and I didn't have to look at it for very long.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Blood and guts do not bother me. I hate feet. I cannot stand to have to deal with feet in any way.

I like feet!

[No Stars In My Eyes]

As a student, lo, these many years ago, I was at a 'chronic disease hospital' which had windows that opened and no A/C. I was horrified to enter the room of a mouth/tongue/throat cancer patient only to see flies on her open wound, and a heat lamp shining down on it. I reported it at once, of course. I was told the flies were sterile (ie not fresh from a pile of dog poop out on the grounds or from the kitchen trash), were 'lab-raised', and were being used to generate the maggots with which they hoped to clean up the wound. I was dubious, but assured this was a legitimate treatment. The enzymatic ointment they had been trying was inefficient, so they were trying an old-fashioned method.

It did clean up the wound, but of course the cancer kept advancing, and the patient did eventually die. However, it was a sight guaranteed to make you grimace! Imagine feeling flies crawling around in that area! *shudder*

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

As a student, lo, these many years ago, I was at a 'chronic disease hospital' which had windows that opened and no A/C. I was horrified to enter the room of a mouth/tongue/throat cancer patient only to see flies on her open wound, and a heat lamp shining down on it. I reported it at once, of course. I was told the flies were sterile (ie not fresh from a pile of dog poop out on the grounds or from the kitchen trash), were 'lab-raised', and were being used to generate the maggots with which they hoped to clean up the wound. I was dubious, but assured this was a legitimate treatment. The enzymatic ointment they had been trying was inefficient, so they were trying an old-fashioned method.

It did clean up the wound, but of course the cancer kept advancing, and the patient did eventually die. However, it was a sight guaranteed to make you grimace! Imagine feeling flies crawling around in that area! *shudder*

I've heard of this treatment, but haven't seen it in practice. I have seen leeches though....those really tripped me out. Not for the gross out factor, but at how something so archaic is still so effective. Pretty amazing. Maggots though....ick.

[malamud69, BSN, RN]

UTI STINKING URINE...urine in general

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

I have two. I almost gag if I get a whiff of jevity, glucerna or pulmocare TF.

The other is the unmistakable odor of a dead bowel. I can not go in the room without a mask on that has some vicks vaporub or benzoin on the outside.

[ixchel]

I have two. I almost gag if I get a whiff of jevity, glucerna or pulmocare TF.

The other is the unmistakable odor of a dead bowel. I can not go in the room without a mask on that has some vicks vaporub or benzoin on the outside.

What does dead bowel smell like? I'm trying to figure out if that's what my colostomy man smelled like.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Deforming facial trauma, anything about eyeballs, and filthy dentures. I've passed out once and puked once. The pass out was while a lady was getting prepped for a cataract surgery. As soon as the needle touched her lower eyelid, I hit the floor! The other: an elderly woman came in for whatever reason and I had to remove her dentures...Not only were they disgustingly filthy with caked on matter looking like it had built up over months, but worse there was a DEAD FLY under the top denture!!

we have another winner !

[No Stars In My Eyes]

"I don't know why

I swallowed the fly...."

That is truly gross!

[Beverage]

I nearly passed out observing a total knee from the smell of burning bone when surgeon took a saw to the bones! I would seriously scream and run if I had maggots in a wound. I hate brushing crusty goopy dentures and the smell of GIB and c-diff!