Inappropriate Behavior

yousoldtheworld · Mar 13, 2012

Speak for yourself. I work in a nursing home with old people and I get older EVERY SINGLE DAY!

You just made me choke on my own throat, lol.

allnurses Guide · Mar 13, 2012

Oh Lord...people need to take a chill pill. Why make something more of a situation than there really is. I am pretty sure if you mentioned it to the administration, her *^& would be fired the next day. Do really want her to lose her job over something really petty?

She's a student and asking about personal boundaries. That is a perfectly appropriate question.

interceptinglight, CNA · Mar 13, 2012

I don't get thinking like that. Unless the person has a cold or something, why not? It's not like being old or disabled is contagious...

Truly!! Geez, you're already exposed to every microorganism present in the facility you work in, not to mention the close proximity with people that you are caring for. CNA work is no place for germaphobes !!! :icon_roll

nguyency77, CNA · Mar 13, 2012

Truly!! Geez, you're already exposed to every microorganism present in the facility you work in, not to mention the close proximity with people that you are caring for. CNA work is no place for germaphobes !!! :icon_roll

It also could be that the previous shift doesn't do so great of a job in terms of hygiene, and so your residents end up a little bit dirtier than normal when you start your shift.

But no, you're right. What we do is not for the germ-conscious!

rn/writer, RN · Mar 13, 2012

She's a student and asking about personal boundaries. That is a perfectly appropriate question.

Yes, it's an appropriate question. But there is the textbook answer and there is the real-world answer.

One of my daughters worked in LTC for a number of years. She did mostly PMs and liked tucking in her residents. She was never disrespectful, but she did a lot of hugging and smooching on cheeks. Think about it--LTC residents are often starved for touch and a bit of non-sexual personal contact can help them feel valued and human.

This reminds me of stories of over-crowded orphanages in some countries where the harried staff had time only to feed and clean the children and couldn't hold them or give them hugs. A lot of those kids died for no obvious medical reason. The conclusion was that they had a hunger for physical touch and closeness and withered away when it wasn't forthcoming.

This is the residents' home, not an acute care setting like a hospital. Between asking and trusting her gut, my daughter had very good instincts about who could safely be hugged and/or kissed and who didn't want that kind of attention from her (a small minority). If she forgot, the huggy ones reminded her. This really meant something to them.

Many of the residents cried when she left (though they understood she was going back to school and wished her well). They lit up and reached for hugs whenever she visited.

So, don't do it if you're not comfortable with it, but don't feel that you have to keep an artificial barrier with folks you get to know and care for.

tomc5555 · Mar 13, 2012

I don't consider myself a germaphobe. I'm the guy that doesn't shy away from the dirty work, doesn't gag at the sights and smells.I don't kiss residents in part because of hygiene. Do I want my mouth on a cheek that just got a big wet kiss from someone. No. Also, I know how little hand washing residents do and everyone touches their faces.:icon_roll

mazy · Mar 13, 2012

Speak for yourself. I work in a nursing home with old people and I get older EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Ha! I was lurking and I decided to log in just so I could "like" that! Clearly, your cognitive skills are tip-top.

yousoldtheworld · Mar 14, 2012

It also could be that the previous shift doesn't do so great of a job in terms of hygiene, and so your residents end up a little bit dirtier than normal when you start your shift.
But no, you're right. What we do is not for the germ-conscious!

I think what annoys me is the idea that the residents we care for are somehow "dirtier" than everyday people on the street. For example, I work with a girl who won't even touch a resident without wearing gloves. I highly doubt she does this with people outside of the facility. I doubt the poster who made that comment about the alcohol wipe does that before they kiss friends/family.

We can be no more certain of the hygiene of these people (actually less so, because WE are responsible for the hygiene of our residents, and not so much for our friends/acquaintances). Shoot, if I were to ask most of my male friends when they last washed their face, they'd probably look at me like I was crazy.

Old doesn't equal dirty, and in the case of my facility, developmentally disabled/mentally handicapped doesn't equal dirty. That stigma really bothers me.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Mar 15, 2012

Healthcare workers have hand hygiene drilled into their brains, but most people do not. You can go to the grocery store and pick up a box of cereal to read the ingredients, not knowing the last person who touched it was picking their nose in the car or went to the bathroom and "washed their hands" by flicking their fingertips under the water for 2 seconds. Half of our rehab patients are on isolation for MRSA in the urine or nares! When they are released to go home, most of them are still on precautions... and yet I have never seen someone out in public wearing a mask.

I know someone who lives her life in fear of germs. She wipes down everything, constantly! Her kid probably has no acquired immunity to anything because she's never been exposed. Think of the last 5 times you've been sick with something contagious... it's probably all been colds with maybe a stomach bug thrown in... unpleasant, but nothing that the passage of a few days won't fix. This woman acts like everything in sight is coated with smallpox and hepatitis or something.

nguyency77, CNA · Mar 15, 2012

I think what annoys me is the idea that the residents we care for are somehow "dirtier" than everyday people on the street.

I personally don't think the residents are inherently "dirty." It's just a matter of coworkers not doing things when they're supposed to. Sometime last month, I came in to work that day as a patient escort. My supervisor was taking forever to go get the van, so I went to answer call lights. I went into a room with the emergency light on, and found a confused patient sitting on the toilet. Apparently my coworker did not know she was confused, and he consequently left her alone. She had somehow opened her colostomy bag and was playing with the poop. It was all over her clothing, the walls, her face, etc. Ordinarily, I would have given her a kiss had she asked for one. But on that day? Not without a bath first. :)

gapeacheykeen · Mar 16, 2012

Actually this was the aides first week. I have been volunteering for over 7 weeks at the facility. I had witnessed hugs, just fondly talking to the residents becoming involved with their lives. I just had never witnessed the kissing other than from the loved ones that visit. I really felt that I was asking very pertinate questions. I appreciate those that actually answered! : )

tomc5555 · Mar 16, 2012

I wouldn't kiss anyone unless I had swabbed their cheek with an alcohol swab.
lol...
seriously.

This was a regretful, lame attempt at humor.

I don't and have never 'swabbed their cheek with an alcohol swab'.

My apologies to those I offended.