Bathroom? What's a bathroom ... ???

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Dec 30, 2014

I may not always have time to eat, but I always make time to visit the bathroom at least once a shift. While I may not get 10 minutes.. those 30 seconds are bliss :)

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 30, 2014

My bathroom breaks are not uninterrupted. That maybe my fault... I should stop taking my phone or Vocera in with me or at least turn them off. Although I do not respond, it hurries me up and so it is definitely a bad habit I need to break!

AJJKRN · Dec 31, 2014

Nothing like listening to a bed alarm go off while already trying to hurry up! :wideyed:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Dec 31, 2014

I used to wish I could just insert a Foley and be done with it. But over time I developed "nurse's bladder" and now the thing's as big as a Winnebago's gas tank. I can hold it all day and half the night. I also tend to have UTI's. Can't imagine why. LOL

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2014

It's not me--see my thoughts on mictruition from this earlier thread:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/why-do-we-966452-page5.html

allnurses Guide · Dec 31, 2014

I take every opportunity to use the bathroom. It only takes 30 to 60 seconds. Each time I had a seizure at work (twice) I had just coincidentally gone to the bathroom.

I'm grateful and will take every advantage to do the same as long as I'm working!!

mh0712, MSN, RN · Dec 31, 2014

Tonight my nose has been so runny and I am sick, but my goodness those trips to the bathroom are full of quiet and peace. Makes me happy that the night is almost over.

Nursing Is My Life · Dec 31, 2014

Nothing like listening to a bed alarm go off while already trying to hurry up!

How well I know this. Seems you just get settled on the toilet to take care of business and the alarm goes off. So you're trying to hurry and wipe, pull up your clothes and wash your hands before anyone is getting injured! Sometimes I feel like we need to have a catheter in place with a leg bag, as little as we get our restroom breaks. lol.

zeusandapollo · Dec 31, 2014

Ladies and gentlemen, you MUST take time out for FLUID INTAKE, and OUTPUT. While you are young, your body handles it pretty well, but as you get older, fluid retention can take over, you can get inflammatory issues, auto immune disorders from the inflammatory disorders, PMR (polymyalgia rheumatica), takes a steroid shot to get rid of that, if you can unstiffen to go to the pain specialist to do it. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES!! PLEASE!

BD-RN, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2014

I've stopped not taking care of myself to take care of others. Why? Because if I'm not well, how in the heck am I going to take care of YOU? That includes drinking, eating, and taking bathroom breaks. I'm not diabetic, but my blood sugar has been low at work before, and I've developed a UTI at work. Other nurses had to watch my patients while I ran to employee health. Ive seen my colleague collapse and then crack his head open. How much safer were my patients then? Who's watching them while we're all trying to take care of HIM?

Take the time to take care of yourself. Remember SAFETY comes even before ABCs. If YOURE not safe, NOBODY is safe. That includes your health.

catmom1, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2014

I don't get why nurses seem to take a strange kind of pride in sacrificing oneself for "others." Even the person who said he/she always takes self care, says it's so they can take care of others better. What's wrong with self care just because we are human beings and deserve decent treatment?

This pressure not to even take a bathroom break is symptomatic of how abysmal nurses' working conditions are.

This is no way to live. :mad:

Catmom :paw: