Feeding and toileting

The facility I just left recently implemented a policy that under no circumstances was a resident to be toileted when there were still trays to be passed out or residents needing to be fed. How are things done at your facility?

This has been the policy at every nursing home I have ever worked at and I am almost 100 % sure it is a nursing home regulation. Meaning that if the state were to see you leaving while feeding to toilet someone it would be a violation. The rational behind this is you are mixing feeding and passing clean trays of food with possible body fluids. Now before you start flaming me to death , I dont agree with this. I think we work hard to keep our residents on a toileting schedual and making them wait just causes a increase in incon. We take everyone to the restroom just prior to meals but everyone knows that you have to tinkle after you eat. Plus if you have ever attended a micro class or nursing school you will know that you can scrub your hands all day long and never remove all the germs. So there is no way to be germ free while you are passing trays , feeding or anything else... Just leave it to the state to develop arse backwards rules.

[. Plus if you have ever attended a micro class or nursing school you will know that you can scrub your hands all day long and never remove all the germs. So there is no way to be germ free while you are passing trays , feeding or anything else...
Germ-free? We all have 'good ' bacteria that are beneficial to us found in all parts of our body. It works on a symbiotic relationship and helps us prevent other fungal infections etc. However if what you're implying were to be correct, we should never change diapers even before a meal as we will never be able to properly clean our hands. I personally disagree as I feel a vigorous scrub of the hands with soap and warm water for 1 and a half minutes should be enough to prepare your hands between activities. In our facility it is required to wash and wear gloves and a clean apron when feeding patients. Thank G-d we have a good record!!
Regarding your claim: "We take everyone to the restroom just prior to meals but everyone knows that you have to tinkle after you eat."
That may be true with healthy individuals, but our patients often have to go in middle of a meal and I personally feel it would be cruel to make them wait and risk complications or an 'accident' (which can cause the patient much embarassment!),Therefore I always send a CNA to toilet my patients when they request, and they just don a new pair of gloves and apron after washing their hands after helping that human being to the bathroom!
For future reference, just provide the care for the patients that you would have wanted for yourself!
By the way I once did an inservice to teach my CNA's empathy for the patient who wants the bathroom. I restrained them and made them drink a bottle of coke before a lecture Halfway through they were begging for the toilet and i answered them with a half hearted "later,dear" and "not now I am busy", Try it and seee how you feel!!