About Bedbaths and Stool

[WaddleDoos]

Hello, I have a question regarding the proper way to clean stool during a bed bath or perineum cleaning:

What do you use to remove fecal matter and cleanse the rectum? I tried just using the two washcloths that I brought for the bedbath, but intuitively it seems to be inefficient and wrong.

The first washcloth was rendered unusable due to the sheer amount of fecal matter (wads and wads of stool) on the cloth. This cloth had to be thrown in the dirty lines bag. The second washcloth was too unusable while attempting to wipe the patient, and had to be thrown out. At this stage, the patient's rectum still was not clean to the point that a wipe would have no traces of stool.

Am I supposed to take paper towels/tissues/toilet paper instead?

Thanks a lot everyone.

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

I would use disposable wipes, even if I was in the middle of a bed bath. I'd just have them with me, in addition to washcloths. And I'd use more than two washcloths for a bed bath.

[WaddleDoos]

Thanks, that makes a lot more sense than junking mass washcloths.

And I should clarify that I had access to more washcloths (as I brought extra), but stopped at 2 because I suspected something was wrong.

[Trigirl.m]

I am a nursing student in my second semester of clinicals. We use ABD pads as wipes and an incontinence foam spray for cleaning fecal incontinence patients. Could the nurses or other clinical personnel on the floor help you locate the appropriate tools at your facility?

[jrsmrs]

I always try to evaluate what I'll need before I start, or have someone with me who can run out for extra supplies as needed.

I'm not shy about the amount of stuff I use- disposible wipes, blue pads, wet washcloths, towels, whatever. I'm not wasteful, but the main objective is to get the person clean. Two cloths are only if you don't have anything icky to clean up.

Us regular, healthy, toilet-going people don't stop at 2 wads of TP if the job isn't done, if you KWIM

[loriangel14, RN]

Most places have some kind of disposable wipes for that type of cleaning up. Where I work if a wash cloth is heavily covered in poop it gets thrown out instead of sending it to the girls in laundry. Hence the need for disposable wipes.