Embracing Dirt in Nursing Matters

Abstract

Standing in the magnolia painted corridor I wait a moment to let the elderly gentleman pass-by. Stepping forward I knock on the door of the consulting room. ‘Come in’. I enter to find Jo (Advanced Nurse Practitioner) aerosol in hand, wafting floral scents around the room. Smiling she greets me: ‘Hello, come in, take a seat’. Pointing with her eyes to the aerosol she continues ‘sorry about this, just lanced a boil. Poor pet [colloquial reference to the patient who just left]: a great big thing in his arm pit’. Opening the window as we both sit she adds ‘there’s something very satisfying about lancing a boil, but the smell is terrible [grinning]and I don’t want the next patient thinking that smell is me!’.