What nursing task do you loathe???

Published

Just realized today that I can't stand ostomy appliances. It's not the poop, it's just cutting and sizing the appliance and that messy paste. Tedious and irritating but somebody's gotta do it.

How about you?

I think all patients- in fact all people should read this post before they graduate high school and at least once every year after...

and then once again before being released...

that only leaves the crying little snot monsters with green snot running out of their noses screaming at the top of their lungs... and you didn't even touch them yet..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Trying to latch a baby that is too sleep to wake up to nurse despite my 100 interventions.

PKU and hearing screens

Guess my job isn't too bad

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been an RN since 1980 and oral care & cleaning yucky dentures is still the only activity guaranteed to make me gag. I cannot even stand to watch people on TV brushing their teeth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.
Forgive my naivety, I didn't realize hospice pts had regular rectal exams. Is it because of the large amount of pain meds they're on?

Not usually, unless someone hasn't gone in 3-4 days, but I knew this one was lying through her teeth about her bowel status. Seriously, she had brown eyes before I disimpacted her-when I was done, they were blue!! 😆

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric, Aesthetics.

Gagging!!!! I know better than to read this thread after dinner.:dead:

peri care in a SNF. Yeah- give me an IV, Foley, etc... Mucous in whatever- I'll take it over anything in a snf!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

1. I like trachs. Suctioning, cleaning, whatever. I DON'T like having to put a new one back in when pt decides they don't need it anymore and decannulates themselves, then they're bleeding and getting bronched.

2. Vomit. Just forget it. You get handed a basin and I'm out of the room.

3. NGT, mostly for reason number 2.

4. Abdominal fistulas. The leaking. The tedious process of finding a system that works. Pulling food out that's clogging said fistula. Changing the wound manager while abdominal contents spew out.

5. Getting pts oob to the chair. I just do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Talking to unreasonable families, does that count????

If not, dealing with combative patients, especially those that are actually strong enough to kick my butt! Also, not a fan of vomit or feet/nails.

I've learned recently that I get a sick enjoyment out of trach care, suctioning, and placing foleys. God I love being a nurse. Must be the new grad in me. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

I have learned to enjoy accessing ports, but deaccessing them is not my cup of tea! Might be because that was my first accidental exposure...:sorry:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Condom catheters, constantly rolling those things back on. It's like attempting to put a party hat on a turtle who is sticking it's head back in. I've come right out and told doctors "um, you know the whole concept of a condom is that it's not being put on something flaccid?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in RETIREDMed nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

NGT = archaic and abominably torturous. Don't we have something better in this day and age? Everything about it is totally gag-worthy. They would have to completely conk me out to get my 'cooperation'; because every time they calmly said "Swallow" , I would be retching and gagging, vomiting, hitting and kicking.....

It makes my throat tighten up just imagining it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

Also hate NGs. I've only ever had to place one (with the pt fighting every inch) but even just caring for them, ugh. I think I'm just always afraid the pt will pull it out somehow & I'll have to replace it. Vomit itself though doesn't typically bother me nor does any other type of poking or inserting other devices into people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.
NGT = archaic and abominably torturous. Don't we have something better in this day and age? Everything about it is totally gag-worthy. They would have to completely conk me out to get my 'cooperation'; because every time they calmly said "Swallow" , I would be retching and gagging, vomiting, hitting and kicking.....

It makes my throat tighten up just imagining it.

I suppose we could invent a way to go at it from the other end... haha! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion