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.

I am so glad your mom is doing better!!! And wow, your story makes me really sad.....you may want to consider a phonecall to JCAHO

I am graduating in 5 days, but I will tell you...the last hospital I did rotations at was the best at this! Every nurse, esp. ICU gave mouth care, brushed their hair, ect. I've learned from my own Mother being in the hospital that not all people do what they are supposed to do. Long story short, my Mother was in ICU for 6 weeks and almost passed. For a total of 8 weeks, no one brushed her hair or even tried to groom her in any way, shape, or form. When she was discharged, I spent 3 hours trying to get the "mat" out of her hair and was unsuccessful. I had to cut most of it out and she was completely devastated. She has always had long hair....most of her life. Makes me sad to see some people could care less.

I'm also glad your mother is doing well. I feel bad about her hair, I'm sure she was upset but you said she was in the ICU for six weeks and almost passed. Six weeks is a long time in an ICU and so I imagine she was very sick. Should people have tried to brush her hair? Of course. On my floor there are NO aides or techs or whatever you call them. I am the only person responsible for my patients. So sometimes hair brushing does not get done. Especially before any orders, meds, bloodwork, tests, face cleaning, body cleaning, or mouth cleaning. And then if they have been there a few days and already have a knot I feel pretty crummy about running my hospital issued dollar store comb through it as they grimace. It's not that I couldn't care less.

And calling JACHO about knotted hair? Thats why people keep saying stuff like "I'm going to lose my license." Or loose. lol.

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.

I am a union nurse.

The fact is on night shift when there are only two staff members on the unit, we are not allowed, legally, to leave the unit for a break. So we sit at the nurses station and if we are lucky finish a hot drink before it cools.

Our union contract pays us for the missed coffee breaks at straight time and for the rest break we get double time.

Break rooms? Too far from the units to be really viable in my building.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I am graduating in 5 days, but I will tell you...the last hospital I did rotations at was the best at this! Every nurse, esp. ICU gave mouth care, brushed their hair, ect. I've learned from my own Mother being in the hospital that not all people do what they are supposed to do. Long story short, my Mother was in ICU for 6 weeks and almost passed. For a total of 8 weeks, no one brushed her hair or even tried to groom her in any way, shape, or form. When she was discharged, I spent 3 hours trying to get the "mat" out of her hair and was unsuccessful. I had to cut most of it out and she was completely devastated. She has always had long hair....most of her life. Makes me sad to see some people could care less.

I insist on keeping my long hair, too and boy can it be a PITA, but I do relate. It's hard to see someone lose something that was unique and very important to them. Anyway I just wanted to share when I was a student in our ICU rotation they had one little 88 yr old lady with long gray hair - their solution was "Heidi" long braids. I thought it was cute and certainly practical but I wonder if they would be dinged by the Joint Commission (JCAHO) on the dignity issue now?

Priorities. I think some people would prefer to be a clean corpse with well brushed hair rather than ALIVE and discharged home. Would it be nice if there was time to do everything? Yes

But of course, we have nursing students and patients that just KNOW the nurses were lazy because OH MY GOODNESS they were chatting about a tv show. You know when I discuss tv shows at work? When I'm waiting on a call back. Or when i'm watching the desk because we don't have a secretary that day. Or I'm waiting for someone to get out of a room so we can go clean up a heavy patient together (ever try herding cats? That's how easy it is to gather nurses together) or a bunch of other reasons that I can't go brush some hair.

You're worried about your family member's hair? Come brush it. But if a nurse has a limited amount of time, do you want that nurse focusing on your hair or your airway?

Specializes in Critical Care.
I'm also glad your mother is doing well. I feel bad about her hair, I'm sure she was upset but you said she was in the ICU for six weeks and almost passed. Six weeks is a long time in an ICU and so I imagine she was very sick. Should people have tried to brush her hair? Of course. On my floor there are NO aides or techs or whatever you call them. I am the only person responsible for my patients. So sometimes hair brushing does not get done. Especially before any orders, meds, bloodwork, tests, face cleaning, body cleaning, or mouth cleaning. And then if they have been there a few days and already have a knot I feel pretty crummy about running my hospital issued dollar store comb through it as they grimace. It's not that I couldn't care less.

And calling JACHO about knotted hair? Thats why people keep saying stuff like "I'm going to lose my license." Or loose. lol.

It's too bad someone didn't braid her hair. Sometimes when we have patients with long hair someone will braid it and then at least it won't get tangled and matted. Our hospital supplies only the narrow combs that wouldn't work very well with thick matted hair.

Specializes in DOU.
I am not a nurse as of yet. However, at clinicals my eyes are wide open, and my eyes see things through the lense of 25 years of management experience....

Oh, lord. Come back after you get a job on an understaffed floor where 85% of your patients are total care, and tell us all about how we should manage our time better. :uhoh3: Until then, you *honestly* don't know what you don't know.

I rarely have time to bathe my patients and some of the PCAs are unreliable. I spot wash people mostly. When I give meds or do assessments I will grab a washcloth and wash a face. Change a gown...I do their pits and torso a bit. If they are incontinent I try to make sure I'm present for at least one change to look at their bottom. Which gives me a chance to make sure they get a good clean up because more often than not the aides rush and leave fecal matter on the skin. Expecting a full bath and shampoo is a bit much but folks can do better than that. It's all perception to families anyway. If mama looks dirty everything else goes out the window.

No offense but in six weeks did you look at her hair and ask why it was in such bad shape? Also what kept you from running a comb through it? I'm not trying to be flippant or funny but I'm not good with hair at all. I can't braid and the combs that we get on the unit aren't good for anything. Most of the teeth snap off unless it's someone with a baby fine short Caucasian hair type. Maybe it's the setting but I feel like some family members are afraid to touch their own family member. It's like they give up all authority to the hospital staff. I tell family members it's still your loved one and you can put a little cream on them or comb their hair if they need it. I tell them they don't have to of course but don't let us stop you and ask me for anything you might need to facilitate their care.

I am graduating in 5 days, but I will tell you...the last hospital I did rotations at was the best at this! Every nurse, esp. ICU gave mouth care, brushed their hair, ect. I've learned from my own Mother being in the hospital that not all people do what they are supposed to do. Long story short, my Mother was in ICU for 6 weeks and almost passed. For a total of 8 weeks, no one brushed her hair or even tried to groom her in any way, shape, or form. When she was discharged, I spent 3 hours trying to get the "mat" out of her hair and was unsuccessful. I had to cut most of it out and she was completely devastated. She has always had long hair....most of her life. Makes me sad to see some people could care less.
Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

It would be nice to go off the unit, and I'm not really sure why our unit doesn't. Day shift does, so I'm not sure why we don't. I mean...it's still the same number of nurses there. But, when I eat..yes, I still keep an eye on my patients, but if an IV pump beeps, a nurse who is not on break will generally go there and take care of it (and I do the same for them). I am new, so I'm not quite sure....but I do feel better being there because if something new were to happen to my patient, how is a nurse who has 2 other patients to care for with one crumping going to notice? I don't really feel violated in any way, though.....I mean, I still generally get to sit down to eat my lunch, and if it gets interrupted for some reason, then I just finish my lunch later. But, yes...when families are there (I mean...I always make sure I talk to them first), and I am eating, I do feel guilty like they'll think what a lazy nurse eating, but I need to eat lol.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Originally Posted by Esme12 viewpost.gif

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, housekeeping, 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 aren't sent up and done in a timely matter there will be hell to pay that is a priority 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 was hung not if someone's hair wasn't brushed because i was doing those activities............................... end quote another one

After being a nurse for 32 years, ALL of them at and near the bedside. I am perfectly aware of the importance of testing, labs and pharmacy. I have wasted many hours calling, begging, pleading and threatening pharmacy, lab and x-ray to get things done. But before I start checking that they, the docs, OT,PT, IV and SLP (whatever that stands for) are "doing their jobs" as well as the "porter, housekeeping,TV, maintenance, and kitchen are doing their jobs" I would be sure my patient is comfortable, well cared for and clean.

Have you ever laid in a bed for days upon end, unable to brush your teeth or comb your hair? or even wash your face? I understand the importance of expediting meds, tests and food for my patient but to make sure they are "doing their job" ? I think more can be accomplished if more attention was paid to my resposibilities than everyone elses.....but I also believe that it can be accomplished with good patient care. I have experienced poor patient care to myself and to my father as well and I just think it is wrong.:mad: When you are feeling like crap and lying in bed for hours upon end, diaphoretic from fever having someone getting you a clean wash rag to wash your face, a tooth brush to brush your teeth, and a comb to brush to run through your hair...... is like a day at the spa!:yeah:

When did the reason we are there become the last one we care for......caring for a patient is more than meds, testing and charting......just my :twocents:

Oh, lord. Come back after you get a job on an understaffed floor where 85% of your patients are total care, and tell us all about how we should manage our time better. :uhoh3: Until then, you *honestly* don't know what you don't know.

Seriously? Maybe you are being a little dramatic here?

I have been on many units and seldom have I seen more than 20 percent of patients being total care...

I am sure they exist, but as you said, I dont know ***** lol

Originally Posted by Esme12 viewpost.gif

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, housekeeping, 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 aren't sent up and done in a timely matter there will be hell to pay that is a priority 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 was hung not if someone's hair wasn't brushed because i was doing those activities...............................

After being a nurse for 32 years, ALL of them at and near the bedside. I am perfectly aware of the importance of testing, labs and pharmacy. I have wasted many hours calling, begging, pleading and threatening pharmacy, lab and x-ray to get things done. But before I start checking that they, the docs, OT,PT, IV and SLP (whatever that stands for) are "doing their jobs" as well as the "porter, housekeeping,TV, maintenance, and kitchen are doing their jobs" I would be sure my patient is comfortable, well cared for and clean.

Have you ever laid in a bed for days upon end, unable to brush your teeth or comb your hair? or even wash your face? I understand the importance of expediting meds, tests and food for my patient but to make sure they are "doing their job" ? I think more can be accomplished if more attention was paid to my resposibilities than everyone elses.....but I also believe that it can be accomplished with good patient care. I have experienced poor patient care to myself and to my father as well and I just think it is wrong.:mad: When you are feeling like crap and lying in bed for hours upon end, diaphoretic from fever having someone getting you a clean wash rag to wash your face, a tooth brush to brush your teeth, and a comb to brush to run through your hair...... is like a day at the spa!:yeah:

When did the reason we are there become the last one we care for......caring for a patient is more than meds, testing and charting......just my :twocents:

We need more nurses like you Esme :) From what I can tell, these younger nurses tend to think they are all that and that basic human care like brushing teeth is beneath them, or that it is the techs job...and maybe it iss the techs job but sometimes the techs need a little help.

Ultimately, and I have said this a million times, it is a staffing issue. We need more techs and more nurses on the floor. Sadly, things are headed in the exact opposite direction.

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