To be sick in hospital

[Kennyp]

having had emergency abdominal surgery this week, ate sandwich day after. Unforttunately threw up all of it whilst on toilet. Tmi, i apologise

The HCA came in, retched and then said "i dont do vomit. I dont mind pooh as i have a horse and a dog but i dont do vomit"

I asked her why she was working in a hospital. She said i was only the second case of vomit she had seen in four months so she wasnt doing too badly(!?!?!?)

I was so gobsmacked i stopped being sick and offered to clear up the mess . She ignored my sarcasm, donned gloves, retched AGAIN and called for a friend to help her

I thought bodily excretions from either end would be par for the course working in a hospital. Perhaps a dog/horse pooh assessor would be more up her street?

Er, wow.

I got into a nice conversation with a lovely junior dr last time I was in hospital whilst she gave me enormous bruises took blood and asked her if she was squeamish about anything, and she was telling me about all her least favourite jobs.

But she still did them! YANBU.

Oh how awful - at least you were feeling well enough to be sarcastic!

It does make me wonder how more elderly/vulnerable patients would cope when there's a HCA like that in the hospital. I'm not saying it's okay in your case, not at all, just that at least you were able to stick up for yourself a bit.

Could you speak to someone more senior about her?

Having said that, I do think that most HCAs are amazing, and do a really good job that not many other people would want!

I'm sure that made you feel better! I too had emergency abdominal surgery recently and was a bit astounded by some of the nurses in hospital. I too got sick after and had to shout for someone to get me one of those cardboard bowl things as didn't want to make a mess.. I got a grumpy nurse sullenly bring one then just go off and not come back. So was just stuck there for ages with it- lovely! I know they have loads to deal with but it's not helpful to be so obvious they are disgusted. I heard them saying each of us has something we find hard, whether it's bile, vomit or poo. Well that's a shame...imagine how they'd feel if scared, in pain and alone with it happening to them!

I heard from my friend, who is a nurse, that she felt some of them should all have a stint as a patient. Then they would understand.

I deal with bodily fluids in my work. Vomit is my nemesis, but I just mouth breathe and get on with it. I think you should mention this comment to someone. It's really not on. Hope you are better soon Kennyp

I deal with pee's poohs but sickness from kids makes me gag. Just because I work with children doesn't always mean I can deal with the parts I don't enjoy. When I had surgery I puked up all the meds but managed to hit the bowl they'd given me

I'm a nurse, not the kind that faces vomit too often but I would never say that it's my nemesis, I smile, hold my breath and get on with it

When I was in after abdominal surgery years ago they gave me morphine which made me ill. I kept telling them I felt ill, got told a nurse would be along, nothing happened.....then I vomited green fluid everywhere. The staff weren't very happy at having to clean me up! I looked at green spots of vomit on my over the bed phone all week until I felt well enough to clean it myself

I'm a carer and I struggle with phleghm but I'd never let on to anyone with a chest complaint. How rude!