do you make sure your pts

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello fellow nurses;-)

my DH and I went to visit his mother in the hosp today...this was her 2nd day, dx dehydration. she is pleasant late 80s with pretty severe dementia. Very nice hospital, quiet,,,no one rushing around...(not like the hospital I use to work at;-) staff at desk talking amongst each other.. anyway, MIL with crust all around her lips, mouth very dry, hence the crust(no swabs around) eyes crusty, hair not brushed and has matted(she has never looked like that.EVER.)it was a somewhat of a shock for my DH to see her like that.. her heels right on the bed(not propped on a pillow)so the heels do not break down....this was at about 5pm. My husband was so angry..he said if they all have time to stand around and talk why hasn't someone cleaned her up?

Anyway..I do not want to bash any other HCP, but i do see his point..we were both just so exhausted, when her nurse strolled over to the room from the front desk we didnt even ask why she wasnt cleaned up..I just did it and was happy to do it for my dear MIL. I know when i was tons busy, running my butt off I still made sure either myself or the aide did the care...hair brushed, face washed off, mouth care(esp. with dementia pt who didnt drink much, would go in and swab their mouths...constant rounds on the floor, esp. when things were quiet..time to catch up and whoever needed some things..got them.

So fellow nurses, my question..do you make sure your aides(if you have them)or you, yourself, make sure your pts are getting at least some minimal grooming done? Thanks.

Listen guys when I was the patient my room was right across from the nurses station and they chatted a lot and it had nothing to do with work. Of course I know its not that way everywhere....

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

@ mindlor, if the staff are sitting at the desk chatting, that is not a time management issue; that is a work ethic issue. If they are neglecting basic care for their patients just so they can chat, that's laziness. However, if it's night shift, they may actually be taking their lunch break. We take ours at the station, but still have to watch our monitors/patients, and that's my only 20 mins of relative peace in 12 hrs. If they're not eating, then yes, they should be working, but a lunch break actually helps productivity.

I treat my patients like I would want my family member to be treated. I make sure all of the most important stuff is done (and yes, unfort. there are nights when baths just can't get done if patients are that unstable. For the most part, though, I am able to freshen up my patients, but I work nights. Day shift can be more hectic with more frequent rounds and families there all day long Even if my night is super busy, my patients on vents at least get frequent mouth care and turning q 2 hrs, but I know that not all nurses make that a priority (obviously...or pressure ulcers would practically be a non-issue).

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@ mindlor, if the staff are sitting at the desk chatting, that is not a time management issue; that is a work ethic issue. If they are neglecting basic care for their patients just so they can chat, that's laziness. However, if it's night shift, they may actually be taking their lunch break. We take ours at the station, but still have to watch our monitors/patients, and that's my only 20 mins of relative peace in 12 hrs. If they're not eating, then yes, they should be working, but a lunch break actually helps productivity.

I treat my patients like I would want my family member to be treated. I make sure all of the most important stuff is done (and yes, unfort. there are nights when baths just can't get done if patients are that unstable. For the most part, though, I am able to freshen up my patients, but I work nights. Day shift can be more hectic with more frequent rounds and families there all day long Even if my night is super busy, my patients on vents at least get frequent mouth care and turning q 2 hrs, but I know that not all nurses make that a priority (obviously...or pressure ulcers would practically be a non-issue).

I hear ya and this is why breaks should not be taken at the nurses station. This is why there are break rooms. if you are having to be at the station to watch monitors then that does not constitute a break. I would suggest contacting an attorney because you are owed back overtime. Also contact the labor board because your facility is in violation of state and federal labor laws.

If no one squeaks it will never get oiled. Also, consider union organization. unions are not a perfect solution but they certainly help.

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yes, i do make sure pts are groomed...

it contributes to their sense of well-being.

has absolutely NOTHING to do with feeling morally superior - not even a consideration.

just part of the damned job, and about as important as every other task, to me.

absolutely nothing wrong in asking why your mil looks as she does/did.

leslie

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I know this is stereotypical and all but my first thought seeing "severe dementia" is that is it possible that she was aggressive to her caregivers or simply refused care? I know it's all "tragic and screw the nurses", but especially with dementia pts sometimes they just refuse and the nurses don't have the time or willpower to argue/convince the pt to let them do their work. Sometimes people just refuse care from people that aren't their "regular" caregivers.

I do my best, but when there's 30 pts to one CNA who is brand new...and the facility enjoys making two-people maneuvers into a one-person maneuver...yeah. Add in two morbidly obese who are constantly on the call light, bed alarms for confused people who get out of bed every three minutes, a demented person who is convinced they lost their hat and is on the call bell constantly...it's a nightmare. I am one person. I cannot be in all places at one time. I'm not superperson and when there's no one helping me (only one nurse on nocs), I struggle. I don't have time management or all the skills down yet. I ended up switching jobs and am mostly happy with where I'm at.

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hi everyone..just read through some real quick...my DMIL is very pleasant...has never refused any care and loves any attention paid to her:-) she is about 80lbs..yes...it was idle chit chat...we walked down from the elevator all the way down the hall and heard most and i was still in my mind, giving the staff excuses..the rooms we walked past quiet people watching TV, very pleasant atmosphere(I felt like I was in a pretty nice hotel;-) the unit was very clean...and we supposed to go back tonight...DH feels like he is getting sick, so we will see..but his brother is going definitely...I actually wanted to ask for an application..lol if I could spend that time my pts..that would be heaven! Oh and I did ask for washcloths and swabs and they were very pleasant at least:-)

I talked to a friend of mine who works on the other end of town in another nice suburban hospital, I use to work there with her and we mostly all pitched to help get our pts taken of...aides and nurses alike..once assessments, meds, docs and disasters dealt with...anyone who needed cleaned up, taken to BR, repositioned, etc it got done...

she said they just hired a new group of nurses(and please, I am not saying new nurses or any particular age, btw;-) just new to the unit and or even that hospital)that are for the most part loud, not team players and not very nice to the families...families are complaining big time,,my friend who BTW is a fine person and a wonderful nurse..she is such a pt advocate...she is always trying to do whats best for her pts and when i went to hosp. she was one of the nurses who was basically my preceptor...she is disgusted over the care the pts are getting on the unit..so they will be a having a meeting soon, the whole dept to address the issue..I will try to keep you all updated..

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I generally leave my patients floating in a pool of poo. I like to give other nurses a chance to feel morally superior. I feel it's my gift to the nursing community.

hehe..love your sense of humor...and I am sure you dont;-)

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

Teamwork or lack thereof is an issue... sometimes. I as well as my coworkers try to do the best we can for ALL patients but sometimes IT IS just one of those days or NIGHTS. Out of a floor of 18 pts you have 3 floor nurses with 6 pts each plus 1 charge that is left to call the MD's for us, enter orders, etc. because we literally had to hit the floor running as soon as we got report. Not to mention the 1 CNA that has half of the floor that is pooping and peeing in the bed and needing to be turned/bathed, etc. Like in my case, having a total of 6 pts with one getting all sorts of blood products because her Hgb is in the toilet; one getting chemo; not to mention one that literally arrived on the floor as soon as I stepped off the elevator; one drama queen/king; and two others that are thankfully stable and not needy. While I would love to be able to wipe eyes and do mouth care and the like ALL of the time, sometimes other things will take precedence. Flame me all you like but every situation is different and like someone said before things aren't always what they seem.

We have been accused of sitting at the desk "playing" on the computers when we are actually charting and checking to make sure orders and meds are entered correctly for our patients. I'm the type of person that when my mom/dad is the patient I will assist them with their grooming needs if necessary because I know all too well how hectic things may become.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
I generally leave my patients floating in a pool of poo. I like to give other nurses a chance to feel morally superior. I feel it's my gift to the nursing community.

I desperately needed this laugh today; THANK YOU!!!

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I don't want this to sound harsh but before I checked that I "check with and make sure that the docs, pharmacy, kitchen, OT, PT, SLP, X-ray, porter, houskeeping, TV, maintenance, security are doing their jobs" I would make sure my patient is clean, comfortable and cared for so I wouldn't have to "feel terrible"....just saying:smokin:

if x ray doesn't get done, ct scan, mri, that delays results needed to cure the patient or at least diagnose them........ meds arent sent up and done in a timely matter there will be hell to pay that is a prioirty never the bath. never ever ever. i have never not done a bath because i was sitting at the desk flittering with the doctors, texting, or eating donuts. NEVER. i can't say every nurse is like. i would feel worse if stat antibiotics weren't hung, blood wasnt hung not if someone's hair wasn't brushed because i was doing those activities...............................

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let me clear one thing up. The floor cannot run without techs. When I am a practicing nurse, I WILL team with the techs, I will respect them, help them however I can and never under any circumstance take them for granted. Their role is crucial.

hahahahha.i laugh because half the time we don't have techs. so many a shift, i got all caught up and wanted to do my total care pts' baths and guess what NO ONE to help turn them or help me do them. yes i can start and do most but i can not change their sheats on my own. so i that would delay things even more. ugh.

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Oh, h*** yes.

That's why I'm called The Hygiene Queen.

:cheers:

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