Hi I just started my nursing school .It's my first semester and everhithing goes well....except my gagging problem.How can I manage that?At first, I thought I was going to have problems with the bad odors ,but after my last clinical I realized that even some sounds(like aspirations) or images are making me gag.I really want to to good job and my grades are great, but how do I control my gagging problem?Thanks a lot

I've always had a problem with gagging too. It's embarassing. I try not to let the patient see me but I can't help doing it or control it. My gagging usually occured during cleaning up of bm. I've had 4 children and 4 grandchildren and didn't experience it wtih them. (maybe rarely) When I worked in the hospital on night shift, one of our duties was to give the enemas in the early am. Sometimes we'd give 3 or 4 in a row.I wore a mask and gown. I know it's ridiculous but hey whatever works. You can also rub some Vicks vapor rub under your nose before you start your unpleasant duties.

Just joking... ya know?

One thing I do is cough if I get gaggy...it seems a bit more acceptable. It kind of clears the gag feeling and stops it from going any further.

Im a nursing student and for a while I worked in the ER as a tech, and for me as far as the smells go, CARMEX is my friend. Anytime I knew I was going into a smelly situation, I had carmex on me and I would rub a small amount just under my nostrils and above my lip and all I could smell (95% of the time) is the lovley menthol smell of carmex, kept my sinuses clear too. Ha-ha.