Emptying linen and garbage bags. ..part of a Nurses jobs description?

[Giveheart]

So I think most nurses do help cleaning staff by emptying linen and garbage bags if they are full. Especially on the night shift where there is less cleaning staff. Some even dispose of them down a chute. But what if you injure yourself while lifting these?...are you covered? Are you concerned about your own safety and refuse to do it?

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

After reading a few of these, all I can say to the OP is: Get used to doing this!

I have had to empty ALL the trash bags and linen bags (even when they were overfull) when housekeeping went on strike, in country hospitals have had to go down and search for linen (am shift & no-one had any fresh towels or sheets!) AND push the trolley back, have had to go down to the kitchens at a large public hospital to get patient's breakfast cos no h/keeping staff were available could bring it up - patients were starving - we do it all baby!

At most of the hosps I've worked at we are not supposed to over fill the linen bags either (most do). When people do, I open it and separate everything into another bag. This is so no-one hurts their back and works quite well.

The h/keeping staff at one time said if nurses sent full linen bags down the chute, h/keeping were going to bring all those full bags back up for the nurses to separate. THAT caused a big commotion I can tell you.

Always use proper lifting techniques and never lift anything that looks and feels too heavy and you should be right mate.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

ADD: when I did clinicals in theatre, we had to clean up the floor, wash all the tables, wash all the aids used and get rid of linen and rubbish.

They told me h/keeping come in and clean later, and I remember thinking: but we just DID all the cleaning! yes, definitely part of a nurses' job in most areas it seems.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

carol-if you would allow me a moment to go off topic, I must comment on a word you used in your post. The word "rubbish" brings back such memories! My parents are British. My mother passed away many years ago and I remember her exclaiming, "Rubbish!" when my Dad said something disagreeable.

OK, back on topic now! Every nurse should do whatever is necessary in regards to pt safety, and that includes providing a clean environment. Period.

[Batman25]

I've never done it and never had to do it. It's never even once come up.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

carol-if you would allow me a moment to go off topic, I must comment on a word you used in your post. The word "rubbish" brings back such memories! My parents are British. My mother passed away many years ago and I remember her exclaiming, "Rubbish!" when my Dad said something disagreeable.

OK, back on topic now! Every nurse should do whatever is necessary in regards to pt safety, and that includes providing a clean environment. Period.

canesdukegirl

I would have said my Aussie work - c**p - but I was trying to be nice! :)

[nursel56]

carol-if you would allow me a moment to go off topic, I must comment on a word you used in your post. The word "rubbish" brings back such memories! My parents are British. My mother passed away many years ago and I remember her exclaiming, "Rubbish!" when my Dad said something disagreeable.

Yep -- surefire tip-off to a British origin that I really like and use when I remember to- same with "daft" and "bollux" but that is more of an Irish-English as I understand it. Crap is American for rubbish, too, Carol. Sorry for the off-topic tangent!

[MegNeoNurse]

Our cleaning staff usually does a wonderful job at emptying trash and linen. But on occasions when a very sick pt is in isolation and going through tons of supplies, the bins do get full between their "sweeps" of the unit. As a part of our continuing education, we are required to complete a powerpoint presentation with a test on disposal of hazardous waste. I'm sure this covers liability with safe disposal. As far as lifting, I don't think I've ever strained to empty the trash or linen?

[Who?Me?]

This falls under "additional duties" that most employers put in nursing job descriptions. EVS, housekeeping, cleaning personnel are usually kept to a bear minimum at most places I have worked and as a result if I want the trash or linen hamper emptied it has been on me. Working in the OR everyone has to pull together and "turn" a room to get ready for the next surgical procedure. There is no delineation between nurse, tech, or housekeeping-we just all have to pull together and get it done.

[gobux90]

Really?? Because you are a nurse, you are above emptying trash & linen? Were you a Patient Care Assistant/Tech before you were a nurse? I'm guessing not, but if you were, shame on you! A great RN would never ask anyone to do something he/she wouldn't do themselves!

At our hospital, linen is a clinical staff responsibility except on a D/C room. To me, clinical staff includes the RN's. Why should you walk away from a full trash or linen bag??

At our hospital, the thinking is this: If you come upon a problem, you own it until it is resolved.

Own it!!

[64squire]

"Every nurse should do whatever is necessary in regards to pt safety, and that includes providing a clean environment. Period."

:up:

[FixThebody]

As a nurse who works for an employer walks through those doors into the building you are required to do what ever is asked of you or quit and go elsewhere. If you believe the request will hurt the patient then refuse to do it. They could still fire you. What do you do when you must turn a 450 pound patient over in bed or help a 160 lb patient to the bathroom? I know that trash bags do not weight this much. A nurse is an employee and must get the job done what ever the jobs is. With the changes that will take place in the near future, budget cuts will remove these support staff, so get ready to handle more dities or as I said quit! A little tough love but a furure reality!

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

Wow, some of you are snobs, lol