Registered nurses: do you love your job? how much toilet/bodily fluids do you have to deal with?

Question

i have pretty much decided on this direction, but i'm worried about the unpleasant aspects such as mentioned in the question. any input would be greatly appreciated. (i'm accepted into an accelerated ba-bsn program that begins in january 09). getting a little worried.

Answer 1

As a RN for 20 years, my advice is brace yourself, you are going to see more than a usual amount of body waste. As a student nurse you will be allocated some unpleasant tasks purely to see how you cope with them.

Every day is different some days will be worse than others.

First year students are usually introduced to basic care scenarios such as providing hygiene, toileting, patient handling, colostomy care, bedmaking, medication administration, basic CPR, aseptic technique, suture removal, patient assessment, Pressure Area Care, urinalysis, taking vital signs, documentation and standard precautions.

Clients / patients will watch you while you are dealing with their personal habits so reflect positive feelings on your face even if you do not feel like it, especially for stoma / colostomy clients.

If you have an idea of where you would like to eventually work it could highlight how much bodily fluids you will deal with. For example; in the older adult field there will be quite a lot of involvement in daily living skills that may require assisting with the task of toileting and some changing / cleaning of the client.

In particular aspects of surgery you may be required to assist clients with bowel preparation both pre and post operatively.

It will vary from speciality to speciality of course.

My advice is don't work yourself up about it because the more you get used to dealing with this part of nursing you will learn to implement your own personal coping strategies.

Just remember that we all have to perform our toileting needs but a some people will need help from time to time, and as it is the caring profession you are entering we are the helpers.

After a short while you will wonder what you were ever worried about.

Good Luck with your studies

Answer 2

Any bodily fluid should not be a problem if all the hygienic rules are applied.Alot of hand washing and always wear gloves when coming into any contact with the bodily fluids.

Answer 3

As a student, prepare to be exposed to unpleasant fluids (vomit, sputum, blood, pee, p**p, amniotic fluid, vernix on the newborns, etc.).  

After that, it depends what unit you work on.  As a psych nurse, most of my patients take care of themselves.  

You do, however, get used to it.

Answer 4

I completely agree with ANJO and I hope you pick his/her answer as the best. There are so many great things about nursing to focus on. Don't sweat it. Go with the flow (pun not intended!) And best of luck to you.