Brief mystery for a male Resident

Nursing Students CNA/MA

Published

Okay so maybe you CNA veterans can help me figure this one out. I have three years experience, two in LTC and one in acute.

I have a male Resident who mysteriously gets urine on the side of the drawsheet. I always check his sheet on both sides before I pull down the hospital gown and pull the blankets back over him. The brief is secure, and it doesn't happen all the time, but it's REALLY weird. When I turn him to change him, I cover the area with wipes, so I know this isn't happening while I turn him. And, as I mentioned, I check it before I put the bedding back together. He's obviously total care.

It can be frustrating, especially during last rounds. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. I should also mention that the way he is built, there is no possiblity anything is peeking out of the side of the brief, and he can't really move too well to pull the brief off. Me and the other CNAs at work have tried to figure this out amongst ourselves, but no luck.

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

I would say its gotta be coming out the side maybe he's pulling his member out the side? Or pulling it out and then putting it back in the brief?

Is it possible that he, like many males, likes to "check his equipment?" Pretty common, especially during sleep. I don't mean that he is pulling his member out, but rather just reaching into the brief. Boys and men of all ages, from infants on up, tend to do this for comfort and just because they can.

See if the urine is on the same side as his dominant hand. Does anything appear on a wet cloth if you wash either hand?

If this is the case, don't know that you can do much about it other than perhaps place a towel on the bed over the drawsheet. You might be able to keep his hands out of the brief, but he could find that upsetting enough to try to get the brief off.

Hope you can figure out the mystery.

Do you have access to disposable chucks? We cover drawsheets and bed pads with those and it usually keeps the sheets and pads dry.

In LTC we don't have disposable chucks all the time. Thank you for the responses. I actually observed him able to reach the brief area and stuff last night, so I think he is maneuvering the brief around after I leave. Silly Residents! :p

In LTC we don't have disposable chucks all the time. Thank you for the responses. I actually observed him able to reach the brief area and stuff last night, so I think he is maneuvering the brief around after I leave. Silly Residents! :p

Wow. I work in a LTC and we have disposable chucks all the time and let me tell you, last evening was an evening when I was glad we did! Never had a problem with a male resident peeing outside the brief but we have one who likes to shred his brief. Talk about a mess to clean up when he does that.

Wow. I work in a LTC and we have disposable chucks all the time and let me tell you, last evening was an evening when I was glad we did! Never had a problem with a male resident peeing outside the brief but we have one who likes to shred his brief. Talk about a mess to clean up when he does that.

Certain Residents have them if it's part of their care plan, but it's generally discouraged in my facility. I've worked in facilities that have tons of them though.

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