What is your least favorite.....

inna · Nov 1, 2003

black,greenish discharges fron the NG Tube, pts with bad breaths who wouldn't even be bothered brushing their teeth even when you insist ... poops i can handle, but pt's private parts down there that smells like old urine or poops that sticked to their skin YAAAIIKKKKSSS!!!!

obeyacts2 · Nov 1, 2003

I have a huge problem with suctioning. I had ARDS years ago and the sound of suctioning a patient makes me come out of my shoes. Im OK if I know ahead of time, but if the sound catches me by surprise..........oh boy. First time I had that happen, I took MOm to visit somebody in our local ICU (6 beds) the area is tiny to say the least. Mom was visiting friend.....on monitors for heart probs. Pt around the corner was on vent and when I heard the sound I dont remember what happened but a very concerned nurse wanted to know if I was OK. I guess this could be considered a form of PTSD?

Laura

NsgTiger · Nov 1, 2003

Changing dressings on infected wounds. It is not the sight, but the smell of course. You know the ones I am talking about - the smell fills the room, down the hall, and permeates your clothing. There are times when I go home and swear that I still can smell it (though friends/family think I'm nuts).

JuicyJem · Nov 1, 2003

I also hate Poop, adult poop specifically. I can handle sputum, emesis, urine, eyes, teeth or whatever, but having to stand there while someone "goes #2" and then wiping them and smelling it is the GROSSEST.

lsyorke, RN · Nov 1, 2003

I'm one of the strange ones! I love colostomies. Nothing more satisfying that getting a system to work on a patient whose had nothing but trouble. I always say"you can poop,pee, or puke on me, but don't spute near me!!!" How I hate sputum!!

juji fruit · Nov 1, 2003

I have not quite gotten over needles yet. First time I saw stars (no passing out, just a little gray:0), was in OB. Pt. was getting an epidural in prep for a C/S. Had to turn away just to talk myself out of it cause I BEGGED my instructor to let me see the C/S. Second time was just this quarter, I was watching a nurse put an IV in. Did not give it a second thought until she was done and all of a sudden, stars again. Hit me like a rock. Started sweating and had to leave the room. It's so weird how I get set off sometimes. It does not always happen, just sometimes. I can give an IM and SQ's no problem and have even witnessed the procedures mentioned above w/o seeing stars. I quess it is totally subconscious cause when I was a kid, I was terrified of needles; watched my sister get a shot and passed out once. I would kick and scream until they held me down to get shots until I was about 15. The one other thing that gets to me is poop. I can barely even stand to change a toddler's diaper :0) Guess I better not have any more kids :0) It's not so bad when ya B/F until they start eating our food, then its NASTY!!! And adults, just plain YUCK!!! Oh well, it's part of the job :0)

Court

bellehill, RN · Nov 1, 2003

I can handle sputum, I can cheer on a patient vomitting, I can clean up poop, I can even handle mouths..now. The one thing that will always get me is a patient with C.diff stool. Something about that smell just makes me gag (when I leave the room). Even infected wounds aren't as bad as C.Diff stool. :uhoh3:

ruca30 · Nov 1, 2003

I can be up to my elbows in almost anything: blood, feces, urine, vomit....no problem. Sputum???? aaack. It took me the entire time I was in nursing school (and maybe a little bit after) to just SAY the word sputum without gagging. Luckily, other nurses aren't the same, so it's always easy to trade suctioning that trach or collecting a sputum sample for ostomy care or the like :roll

Teshiee · Nov 2, 2003

Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy
What I really hate at work is paperwork, having to deal with irritable demanding stupid families, and having to discipline/write up coworkers.

The icky stuff usually doesn't bother me.

We must be on the same wave lenght!!!! :-)