Hey Everyone,
I received another “ask me a question” and this one comes from Farah and here is what she ask:
“Hello,
Im a Nursing Major (can’t wait til i become a Registered Nurse RN) and looooooooove the nursing field, there just one problem…… When I see bad wounds or injuries, I squinge..What do I do??? Please help!
Farah”
Farah, thanks for your question. I definitely see your point about seeing the gross wounds and injuries. I think everyone who is a nurse has something that just makes them cringe. For example, I don’t do vomit very well. I actually hate it!
First of all, I wouldn’t let something like this talk you out of being a nurse. Since I have been in nursing school and working I have only seen two wound/injuries that made me cringe and this was because I was doing a clinical rotation at a wound care clinic. Other than that I have really never seen any. Most people who have to deal with things like this are people who work in those types of environments. For example, if you work on a burn unit you will see many gross burns. I work a cardiac unit and I don’t really deal with wounds. Plus we have a wound care team who does all of our dressing changes and wound care for us. So my advice to you is to go into a field of nursing that doesn’t have many wounds. You may not be able to totally avoid wounds but you may not have to deal with them as much. I would avoid the ER, burn units, OR, Geriatrics/nursing homes (many pressure sores), and surgery floors.
Another thing you could do is sensitize yourself to them by looking at pictures on the internet. That may better prepare you for it because google has many graphic images.
Good luck to you Farah and thanks again for you question!
Until next time
Sarah