What type of gross things do registered nurses have to do?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm going to get straight to the point.

Is it true that nurses have to change "poopy" diapers/patients and or deal with dead bodies?

I would love to get into nursing, but those are my deal breakers.

PLEASE HELP. All answers will be very much appreciated.

Don't be shy, and thank you in advance!

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
-Would employers view 18 year olds with an ADN as fresh-meat, with not enough "experience," or would they likely disregard my age as long as i'm qualified??

-Would you recommend me to pursue another career path, like Diagnostic Medical Sonography, if I refuse to have anything to do with dead bodies or wiping someones ***?

-Also, if you are a nurse, what is daily life like? Do you dread going to work?

Any other advice is welcomed and appreciated.

Keep in mind that I am only 16, and will be graduating high school early next month, June 5th to be exact.

Threads merged per ToS

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The thing is, I don't want a useless degree. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers tend to have a difficult time finding a job after graduation.

Well, then major in something else which has a better placement percentage after graduation. But as far as nursing goes, you have asked a question which I have answered honestly. You cannot selectively refuse to care for your patient. If he dies or is incontinent, you may be required to do post-mortem care or clean him up after his bowel movement. That is a fact of nursing life.

I worked in ICU, where there is a whole bunch of both of your deal breakers. So ICU would not be for you. I now work in a stand alone GI lab, where there has never been a death. I think I have had to clean someone up once in a couple of years, so that part is minimal. The catch is that our facility will not hire new grads. You would have to pay your dues as a staff nurse for a couple of years first. A lot of jobs want you to have that foundation of active bedside nursing before you advance.

You are obviously very smart if you are finishing school so young. Why not go to a 4 year university where you have a couple of years before you have to declare a major? You could use these first two years to figure out where your interests lie.

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Specializes in ICU.

I noticed you mentioned PT as an alternate option instead of being an RN earlier... just thought I'd bust a bubble for you. I work on inpatient rehab as a CNA, and if the patient has to go to the bathroom during physical therapy, physical therapy takes him/her. There are days where PT deals with as much poop as CNAs. Of course, if you were an outpatient PT the situation might be different, but inpatient PT deals with a LOT of poop.

Nurses and death... all nurses have to deal with it at some point. You will see at least one patient death during nursing school, odds are, so don't think you can avoid it altogether. And nursing students definitely do mostly CNA work for the patients for the first semester, at least, so you will see lots of poop then. Even if you could find a job with no death and no poop, you can't be a RN without going to school first.

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I'm just realizing that the majority of the replies I received are negative and insulting.

It's a shame because I am only 16 and was asking very logical questions.

If your going to act hurt and be rude, then simply don't comment.

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You are obviously very smart if you are finishing school so young. Why not go to a 4 year university where you have a couple of years before you have to declare a major? You could use these first two years to figure out where your interests lie.

Yeah, I am going to a community college because it it local, convenient, and cheaper. I will definitely transfer to a four year university after obtaining my AA. I have came to the conclusion to seek out a career consultant.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I'm just realizing that the majority of the replies I received are negative and insulting.

It's a shame because I am only 16 and was asking very logical questions.

If your going to act butt hurt and be rude, then simply don't comment.

No one is being insulting....they may not be the answers you are looking for.....but they aren't insulting.

You might be able to go ot your community program tht doesn't mean that the hospital will allow you to participate in clinicals until you are 18. This will vary program to program state to state and facility to facility.

Unfortunately there is really no way to avoid dealing with urine and feces (pee and :poop:) nor can you avoid dealing with deceased bodies. There are areas that you will have these bodily functions thrown at you....it is just a fact. Some older people will play in their own excrement because they don't remember that is wrong.

The areas that have little to do with human functions are available only after you put in your time and gain experience at the bedside doing the "yucky" jobs.

You talk about other professions....... however, because we are nurses we are unable to assist you. I will tell you...depending on where you live the job market for nurses is very poor with as high as 47% of new grads unemployed. There is NO nursing shortage.

The other trend is that hospitals are taking preference for BSN/4 year graduates

I wish you the best......I think the career counselor is a good choice.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
-Would employers view 18 year olds with an ADN as fresh-meat, with not enough "experience," or would they likely disregard my age as long as i'm qualified??

-Would you recommend me to pursue another career path, like Diagnostic Medical Sonography, if I refuse to have anything to do with dead bodies or wiping someones ***?

Keep in mind that I am only 16, and will be graduating high school early next month, June 5th to be exact.

Unfortunately, if you refuse....you will be failed or fired. I think you need to realize that there pleasantries that go along with the profession. I graduated MANY years ago young ......just like you. I have been a nurse since I was 18....something that even my school doesn't allow anymore.

regardless of your age.....the nursing job market is a poor as every other job market out there.....and that is the honest truth.

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You have to mentally disconnect. I am going into nursing and I hate all bodily fluids. I have made it up in my mind that the only thing you can do is DISCONNECT!![/quote']

Disconnection goes a long way.

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The thing is, I don't want a useless degree. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers tend to have a difficult time finding a job after graduation.

Think about this: If a job is a great and lacks anything unpleasant, don't you think it will be something LOTS of people will want to do? And if lots of people want to do it, then there's going to be competition for the jobs. Especially if it pays well. You want an easy time finding a job? You've got to go into something unpleasant.

I'm just realizing that the majority of the replies I received are negative and insulting.

It's a shame because I am only 16 and was asking very logical questions.

If your going to act hurt and be rude, then simply don't comment.

If you don't want honest answers, don't ask the question. Honest isn't "negative and insulting" just because it's not what you want to hear.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

As you grow up, grow older, and mature somewhat, your concern shifts to making things as comfortable as possible for your patient.

As a student nurse, I too, dreaded my first dying-then-dead patient. When it came to pass though, my immediate priorities were dignity for my patient and consoling her elderly husband until her son and daughter-in-law got there. It was nothing I had to consciously think about doing by then, it just happened.

There are ways to handle gross smells like oil of clove or wintergreen on a cotton ball tucked behind your mask, a minty teabag tucked into your bra, etc. because BELIEVE ME you aren't the first and and you won't be the last.

We aren't being mean or unhelpful. Once you do some things on your ick list, they usually don't seem so Gawd Awful. Every single one of us has something that grosses us out. Mine will probably make you laugh! Dentures! yuck! ick! eewww!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

OP, I hope you return to this thread...the posters have given you the most HELPFUL, HONEST information in being a nurse.

I hope you also come back to let us know what the career counselor has told you, and what your decision is.

When I was your age 16 years ago, I worked at a Heath center for my junior and senior years in High School...I even worked in the summer. I worked with urine CONSTANTLY...I was in women's health/prenatal, clinic, as well as laboratory...urine and blood, again. Fast forward to 19, I worked in a ER, and I thrived so well, I could eat amongst a smell of lower GI poop, eat after chaperoning back-to-back GYNs which have various smells and colors in obtaining samples, products of conception, smelling alcoholics and walking on their urine, I can go on...but I'll stop.

One of the things when you go into Nursing is you learn to detach with some aspects, and those aspects that could skeeve one, could eventually lead to that person excelling in it. For example, sputum was one of those skeevey things for me...I am a nurse who LOVES to have trached/ventilated patients...babies through older adult. I HEART changing tracheostomies, suctioning, etc, lol!

For me, pooping was never an issue, however, when you have to do bowel routines for people who are spinal cord injured to prevent a serious condition called Autonomic Dysreflexia, or irrigate someone who has a fistula in that area to prevent serious, fatal infections...eh, that goes out the window too.

I can say I am the "poop whisper" at work with my Pedi kids...interestingly, I know when one is going to poop, and who did it lol...it happens. :)

There are times when I may see something or hear about a patient where I need to get myself together...and when I do, I'm back on my game. :)

If you cannot see past excrement, and you are focused on the "fluid" part of nursing, then I don't know what else you want. You may not be ready to be a nurse at this time, and that's OK too. If you get into Diagnostic Imaging, such as radiology or ultrasound that is a very essential career. If you decide to become a nurse later on, you can pay your dues in experience and become an Interventional Radiology nurse because of that background.

Although you post to be "very mature", then understand that with maturity, comes accepting other people's point of view, even if you don't like it....know that what we are posting is our experiences...this is the path of nursing. You cannot "refuse" to clean up your patient...that is called neglect, and if a nurse is accused of neglect, best believe a nurse can be reported to the Board of Nursing...a nurse is a licensed professional that MUST uphold, safe, ethical, competent nursing care...the focus is the patient, advocating for the patient, and making sure that safe competent nursing care is given at ALL times...you can't just "refuse" to do things for a patient...there are needs that need to be taken care of, and cannot be ignored....I cannot stress this enough.

Whatever you decide, understand that nursing is a very challenging, yet rewarding career...it is not like any other degree program...It is literally the boot camp of all boot camps in the healthcare scope. You will be caring for people in their most vulnerable state your first semester of nursing courses.

IF and this is a BIG IF, that you want to be a nurse and be ALL IN, I will suggest that you shadow a nurse or volunteer in an ER at a local hospital if you can...I remember a volunteer when I was working in the ER that was your age who we took under our wing. I am sure he is successful in healthcare now...IF you want to do this, you can be successful as well...it's just some things you may have to check at the door if you decide to be a nurse...rest assured, it WILL make you a better nurse. :)

Good luck.

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Specializes in Med/Surg & Hospice & Dialysis.
You are obviously very smart if you are finishing school so young. Why not go to a 4 year university where you have a couple of years before you have to declare a major? You could use these first two years to figure out where your interests lie.

Yeah, I am going to a community college because it it local, convenient, and cheaper. I will definitely transfer to a four year university after obtaining my AA. I have came to the conclusion to seek out a career consultant.

Seeking career counseling is a wonderful idea. May open opportunities that you are unaware of.

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