Student Nurse with LTC question RE: clothing

I've been a CNA in a LTC facility for about 4 months now and a lot of our ladies don't wear bras. We have ladies ranging from 30's to 100, small to big. I think for a lot of them it's easier to go without than having someone put it on them. I'm big chested and know that if my bra is not on right it can be very uncomfortable.

What do staff members say about it?

We don't put a bra on everyone. Some people don't want to wear them, so we powder the underside of the breast instead.

I work second shift, so I do HS care, and all the women who wear bras have red marks from them digging in. Or the entire thing rides up and the breasts hang out the bottom. Or they've gone through the wash so much that the hooks and eyes are all bent and digging into the skin.

Those over-the-head bras are usually the ones that the breasts fall out the bottom of.

Being understaffed and not having the time to change soiled briefs in a timely manner is much more of a problem than old ladies not wearing bras, if you're looking for something to advocate about.

They may be older but they burned their bras already and are living a liberated life- deal with it!!!LOL

wearing a bra is a social convention.....the irritation you are seeing could be avoided with an undershirt/tank top
often dont see bras used unless patient asks specifically or family makes request.

Just ask. You don't have to voice your opinion, you're just curious, you're a student, you want to learn all you can.

I think the powder under the breasts is both good and bad. If there's lots of perspiring, maybe a small washcloth under the breasts, that is changed often enough to keep it dry, would be good. I guess some women would like a bra, especially if large-breasted, and some prefer none. But if the nipples are other parts of the breast are irritated by clothing, I'd think a bra could help.

The care of our elderly is sooooo sad, so lacking. It's horrible being dependent at all, at any age, but particularly sad for someone who has presumably been a decent person and is now unable to care for herself and who must rely on others for everything. God, please spare me this torment. I'm so grateful that none of my loved ones, parents, grandparents, well, one aunt, needed to be in a nursing facility. They either died quickly or were cared for at home until the end. It was not easy for their kids and grandkids but we have a big family and have been able to share the load.

I totally agree. The lack of care that our elderly receive really disgusts me. I also think it's really a shame that most LTC facilities don't or aren't able to pay competitively enough to attract quality nursing staff, etc. I would love to be able to work with the elderly and be able to help change things for them for the better, but unfortunately I know I won't be able to afford to do so after I graduate.

As for the bra issue, I would think that not wearing one would be better than risking trauma to the skin. If it were me, I would just do the best job I could of making sure the patients I was assigned to had the best care I could give them.