Warning: Healthy Bowels!

Nurses General Nursing

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I am still amazed at how often I get calls from family and friends to let me know thier Bowels are in prefect working order! My bf had gall bladder surgery last year and still reports the size, form and amount with each setting. Seriously, what is it about nurses and bowels??? People see a nurse and think BM?? I don't get it, I sometimes think it's funny, and sometimes wonder why I've been told this information. Please Somebody, Make It Stop before I Lose My Mind!!! Any ideas??

I would never DREAM of just walking up to a nurse (other then if I was in the hospital and she had asked me to) and start telling them about my bm.

Only people who get that description:

Certian docs who ASK about it (one does want it in very great detail)

when I am in the hospital and nurses ask

Well at least you know you make your patients feel comfortable enough to tell you anything----that could be one way to look at it:D

Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

I used to work for a gastro doc, and believe me some (OK, many) of the patients would call EVERY DAY to describe their most recent episode - whether it was productive or not! I lasted about 2 years. There is only so much of that s..t you can take!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Telemetry, Ortho.

Honest to Goodness if my Friends started talking about their bowels, I would tell them to shut up. May even tell them to use a hard and sandpapery suppository.

Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

I love poo-poo! Some of our pts get upset if they haven't gone twice in 24hrs, but some move once a wk. OUCH!!!

So just curious, what is everyone's remedies for a good BM at your place? We usually just use warm prune juice, and if they don't like that taste, flavor it with hot cocoa powder.

Specializes in Geriatrics.
I love poo-poo! Some of our pts get upset if they haven't gone twice in 24hrs, but some move once a wk. OUCH!!!

So just curious, what is everyone's remedies for a good BM at your place? We usually just use warm prune juice, and if they don't like that taste, flavor it with hot cocoa powder.

Interesting, never thought of adding Cocoa. I usually give warm Prune juice with MOM added. They drink it and go big time!

i have never had a friend or family member who felt the need to inform me of their bm habits

i did ask my child about his when he was vomiting black emesis and when he acknowledged that it was black too i had a breakdown...[he did fine after three days in hospital]

Specializes in LTC.

Ummm maybe say "Wow, thanks for that info but I am off duty at the moment." :p

Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
Smile sweetly and then discribe your own last bowel movement or lack of bowel movement (make it up to make it interesting) Maybe after a bit they'll get a clue.

I'm afriad that a description of your own BM would encourage these types of people rather than deter them!! They eat that poo stuff up....not literally!!

Specializes in Hospice, Rehab.

What a MOVING thread! :yldhdbng:

I was in the supermarket the other day buying some bran biscuits for my pet ratties when some old lady walks up to me and says "Oh, that reminds me, what's a good remedy for my bowels... they're a bit dodgey..." and then she breaks out into a big speal abotu her motions everythign from frequency to size, smell and texture, gosh, I was surprised she didn't have a picture in her wallet!

And what got me was that I wasn't in uniform - she recognised, I put one eyedrop in her husband pre cataract and she remembered me!

Simple response.."gee that's nice" don't play into the talk.

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