Do the CNAs or RNs do personal care

Nurses Relations

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And bathe patients.

I always thought it was the RNs but someone else told me it was the CNAs who primarily did that?

Specializes in ICU, ED.

When I worked as a PCA on a medsurg floor, the RNs pretty much expected us to clean the patients up. Sometimes they would help if they were the one's that found the poopy bottom, but even then they were just holding the pt to the side so I could clean them and change the bed pad.

Since I became an RN in a 30+ bed ICU with only 3 techs at time, wiping rear ends is all me! The only thing I ask for help with is turning and holding the pt while I clean them up. I don't think I've ever seen anyone delegate this in the ICU, and honestly, I would rather do it myself so I know my patient's bottom is actually clean and to make sure their skin doesn't have any breakdown.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
You'd be amazed how many nurses do just that. I'm grateful to now work in a place where that doesn't really ever happen, but in the hospital where I used to work? Par for the course, never mind the poor patients forced to wait because the nurse wouldn't put them on the commode herself but would instead look for one of us for ten or more minutes. Still burns me up.

I have to say that as a nurse I've done the "let me grab a cna!" Because nurses aren't given gait belts and Cna's are. I'd rather help clean up a code brown because someone had to wait for assistance than deal with the aftermath of a fall because I initiated an unsafe transfer

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Specializes in Medical-Surgial, Cardiac, Pediatrics.

Preferably, the patient wipes their own rear end. If that is not possible, whoever comes across the rear end in need should do some wiping. At the hospital I work at, sometimes that's the CNA, the RN, the family, or even the PT or OT who came to work with them and just happened to come at the time when the had the need.

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Everyone does. Even our secretaries answer lights and help

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Specializes in critical care.

The other day I had an RT help me with a patient. Our unit manager helped with a huge mess when we weren't able to get there fast enough. She was dressed gorgeously as well. Everyone is a team.

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[quote=Here.I.Stand;8044133 This guy asked...

"Do we have to do...peri care?" As he hovered his hand over his nether regions and made a washing motion. :roflmao:

Wish I could have been the one to interview him :cautious:

"Peri care?? Of COURSE not! We just wait for the lady bits and boy things to jump off the patients and run themselves to the showers on their OWN!"

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It's an unusual day that I don't wipe a butt or two.

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