What is the grossest thing you have encountered in clinicals?

Nursing Students General Students

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Thought this would be an interesting thread to start to give new students the "harsh reality" :rotfl: of what to expect as we enter our first semester.

Yes I am. She was admitted with the infection, and returned to the nursing home, will not be cared for properly, and the infection, will in fact, become worse. I blame the nursing home and the family of the lady. I am not being rude, I am going on facts. At our hospital she was being turned q2hours, place on an air bed with all types of skin breakdown prevention devices, and given medications for her various illness' and above all else she received attention to her medical care needs. Even if her infection began as an antibiotic reaction, the extent of the infection was from lack of proper care, care that was not given while in the nursing home. Do not flame me for my remarks. Unless you live under a rock, are visiting from another planet, or are in serious state of denial, it is a well known fact that most (not all, but I have not seen that to be true) do not provide the care to patients that they are being paid for. I blame it on greedy doctors, lazy staff, or selfish family members. The facts are a sad result of how this country chooses to honor its elderly. I am not being naive. The condition of this client is only one out of dozen that come in from the nursing homes. Even if they cannot speak their bodies show all the evidence anyone needs. The quality of care being provided is appalling. It is sad but very true.

Thats sad. It must be driving her nuts. :crying2:

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Was this persons yeast infection being treated in the hospital? That part of your post was unclear to me.

Yes, the yeast infection was being treated while she was in the hospital. She also had numerous decubitus ulcers on her back side and the heels of her feet as well. She had to have many preventive devices due to how she was contractured. She was unable to speak. Other than the "NINE, NINE" or the "DIE, DIE" depending on how you translate it, she could not in any way communicate. BUT she did cry. Tears would pour from her eyes as we tried to move her body parts, hoping we would not hurt her. I wish I could translate what she wanted to tell us. As students we stayed as long as we could with her, stroked her hair (which I think she enjoyed because she would stop crying at that point), and talked to her as if she were part of the conversation, and stayed and fed her pudding and applesauce. I later found out we each went back several times that day to check on her even though she was semiconscious and not our assigned patient. We nicknamed her Willie, and we still talk about her and how we all basically realized that human needs, emotions, and respect surpass any odor. And that, my friends, is a lesson you cannot be taught, it has to be learned. The students who helped me that day are still in the program and we are in clinical together (all but one of us) again this time. And although the story of Willie is now told quite often with some elements of humor that we realized after the fact (such as trying to make a peri-care drape) as a group we still wonder what happened to her. I wish I knew, I think I would try to adopt her as the grandma I never had. Willie made us four girls better friends that day and more importantly, she made us better nurses.

That day I also learned: no matter what the smell or element of gross involved in a disease process, I do not gag. Once I concentrate on what that person must be feeling, the need to help the person overcomes my gag reflex.

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Well everything was not going o.k. ,because every time we moved her she would yell "NINE NINE NINE NINE " which we interrupted as 'DIE' , something she wanted for herself or for the four of us students. I guess the yelling would not have been bad but she had tears rolling down her face.
Was this woman German by any chance? If so, "nine" means "no", not "die"
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Specializes in home health, LTC, assisted living.
:eek: Student nurse suddenly rethinking this whole nurse career thing... :o It's something I want to do with all my heart, and I do believe it is my spiritual calling, but reading these posts is kinda turning my stomach. I truly feel so sick, my menstrual self just put down my bag of peanut M&Ms :uhoh21:

You gotta buck up! You will get used to it.

:chuckle :chuckle

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Yes I am. She was admitted with the infection, and returned to the nursing home, will not be cared for properly, and the infection, will in fact, become worse. I blame the nursing home and the family of the lady. I am not being rude, I am going on facts. At our hospital she was being turned q2hours, place on an air bed with all types of skin breakdown prevention devices, and given medications for her various illness' and above all else she received attention to her medical care needs. Even if her infection began as an antibiotic reaction, the extent of the infection was from lack of proper care, care that was not given while in the nursing home. Do not flame me for my remarks. Unless you live under a rock, are visiting from another planet, or are in serious state of denial, it is a well known fact that most (not all, but I have not seen that to be true) do not provide the care to patients that they are being paid for. I blame it on greedy doctors, lazy staff, or selfish family members. The facts are a sad result of how this country chooses to honor its elderly. I am not being naive. The condition of this client is only one out of dozen that come in from the nursing homes. Even if they cannot speak their bodies show all the evidence anyone needs. The quality of care being provided is appalling. It is sad but very true.

Actually I was not "flaming" you. Mearly, hoping you will recognize that poor care or no care does not only happen in LTC, but also in hospitals and other health facilities. Nor, did I suggest that you were naive.

Julee

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Not one of my residents has a decubitus ulcer on their bodies that happened while in my facility. I can think of two people of the 130 in my facility that even have decubitus ulcers and they were recieved while in the hospital. None of my residents go without treatment for their medical needs. It is very close minded of you as a student to generalize an entire area of nursing as lazy, and money loving. I work my as$ off in a long term care facility 40 hours a week and I am not there for the excelent benefits, great pay, or the modern facilities. I am there because I care for the residents and I want them to have the best quality of life they can have. I don't think that it is fair to be so critical of such a large group of people. Thank god that she recieved proper care at the hospital, if you suspect neglect and abuse you need to call the LTC ombudsman. Make that facility aware that they have dropped the ball with this patient. One of the first things you have to learn is to be a patient advocate, how to fight for your residents and to make sure that they are cared for. I had to say it!:) Sorry for any hurt feelings that I may cause.

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Not one of my residents has a decubitus ulcer on their bodies that happened while in my facility. I can think of two people of the 130 in my facility that even have decubitus ulcers and they were recieved while in the hospital. None of my residents go without treatment for their medical needs. It is very close minded of you as a student to generalize an entire area of nursing as lazy, and money loving. I work my as$ off in a long term care facility 40 hours a week and I am not there for the excelent benefits, great pay, or the modern facilities. I am there because I care for the residents and I want them to have the best quality of life they can have. I don't think that it is fair to be so critical of such a large group of people. Thank god that she recieved proper care at the hospital, if you suspect neglect and abuse you need to call the LTC ombudsman. Make that facility aware that they have dropped the ball with this patient. One of the first things you have to learn is to be a patient advocate, how to fight for your residents and to make sure that they are cared for. I had to say it! Sorry for any hurt feelings that I may cause

Then you are the exception, not the rule. I applaude your efforts. I am sorry you feel I am closed minded, I did point out in my previous post that I am sure there may be "good" LTC facilities out there.... I have not seen a patient from a LTC facility that has reflected that type of care.

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Beware of trachostomies - they can spew further than 7 ft- never ever bend over the neck of a trach patient

I learned that one the hard way- in med-surg clinicals.

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The grossest thing I saw was while I was in nursing school in our OB rotation. The doctor that was delivering this lady was a woman doctor and she was quite unique. She never wore anything to cover up. Never wore the gown, or mask or anything and wore birkenstock sandals everyday. So....this lady is pushing, pushing, pushing, and finally the head comes out. And when it does, so does amniotic fluid and it goes everywhere...even in the doctors mouth. So instead of spitting, vomiting, or trying to wipe her mouth clean, she says "yum...yum...yum..." and smacks her lips together like it was the best dessert she had ever had. I had to hold back the gagging....it was disgusting. And needless to say...OB really wasn't my idea of a good time. :chuckle

I think this woman is taking tree-hugging just a little too far. Ugh!

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Specializes in Critical Care / Psychiatry.
I think this woman is taking tree-hugging just a little too far. Ugh!

Hey, I resemble that! Ehm...not the amniotic fluid eating technique but moreso the tree hugging. Uh...yeah. :imbar

;)

Shel

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