When I used to tell people that I worked in the NICU, their faces would light up because they thought I sat around and held babies all day.
Now that I'm back in the PICU, when I tell people what I do, I get these horrified looks and people(nurses too) will say "I could never do that!". Whats even better is when they say it's because they like kids too much!
So my question to my fellow nurses is ..... what could you never do?
I'll start.... I have a great admiration for Burn nurses! I admit that I do not know much about burn care because it has always been a fear of mine, but I have always thought you have to have a very special talent for this area!
i could never ever work respiratory therapy...all those secretions...i used to gag when i had patients that i just had to use the yankeur on! lol i also could never work in an eye clinic.
give me the violent, the combative, the paranoid, and delusional lol...the more out of control and violent somebody is, the happier i am!:rckn:
this was going to be what i was going to say. this post says all -- except no denture cleaning either, please.:chair: :no::barf02: :eek:
lady parts's and the boy or girl baby plus all the mucus and fluid that comes out of them. Spending 12 hours with a screaming woman in labor adds to the lady parts NEVER. God love all you L&D nurses, I'd say shut it, stop screaming, you're passing a watermellon it's going to hurt:eek: I wouldn't last a week, let's not even add all the "family" there to watch the big event...YUCK..... and yes I'm a mom of 3, but I could never do that!
I used to say "Psych" but so much of what I do on my cardiac step-down floor is psych, so I'll stick with the ICU because I can't take suctioning people. Snot and mucus make me hurl. True story.
Interesting that this thread came back. During clinicals in nursing school, I remember thinking that I could NEVER work in a burn unit, and I just got my first job as a new grad in a Trauma/Burn ICU, and I love it.
I literally have to keep myself from throwing up when I deal with anything related to colostomy bags. Those smells make me gag and I can't help but make those sounds when you are going to throw up! Every time I am done with these I have to run to the pt's bathroom and throw up. Thankfully, the pts were not well orientated. I felt sooo bad. Everything else about changing these types is bags is fine....it's just the smell! I can deal with any other bodily fluid/decub/anything but that smell! OMG! I don't think I will ever get used to the smell....
Geriatrics, med/surg (adult or pedi), and probably ER. I'd prefer to stay away from pedi onc, too. Kids..they just don't understand why they are getting poked with needles and their friends are playing outside. Adults can fathom it. Babies..just don't remember (hopefully).
Oh, geriatric acute psyc. tried it once. Having your behind whopped by an 80yr old psychotic granny that took 4 people to tear her off you and then restrain her in leathers:eek: I could never do that...again.
I don't think I'd last long in oncology, but pediatric oncology would be the worst, in my opinion. I already take my work home with me, and I work in a nursing home. I become too attached. Children? No way.
sharpeimom
2,452 Posts
:yeahthat:
this was going to be what i was going to say. this post says all -- except no denture cleaning either, please.:chair:
:no:
:barf02: 
:eek:
sharpeimom:paw::paw: