Are nurses "above" menial pt tasks?

[trauma_lama, BSN]

Okay, today (on mother's day), having lunch with my mother resulted in an argument. She seems APPALLED that the thought of wiping someone else's butt does not upset me in the slightest. She seems to think that "ass-wiping" is only for lowly, uneducated CNAs and thank GOD that once I'm a nurse, I won't have to do gross things like that anymore (not to mention that I'm hoping to work as a CNA until I get my RN, so that kind of feels like she thinks I'm a "nothing" until i get my degree). My argument was that being a nurse is not about being able to pawn off the "gross" things on nurse aides; it is about whole patient care. Yes, nurses do not wipe butts as much as CNAs do (because they are busy doing a lot of other important things that other members of interdisciplinary health teams can't do), but I'm under the impression that whatever is best for the patient goes . So if that means rolling up my sleeves and wipin' up some poo to give a sick person some dignity and prevent skin breakdown, I will NEVER be above the task. I realize that once I'm a nurse I may have more emergent issues that force me to ask a nurse aide to step in for jobs like that, but unless something is more pressing I think it is not appropriate for a nurse to think that they are "above" doing the work of a nurse aide. What is this situation like in the field? Are there nurses who really think that they are too good to do an occasional diaper change? And if so, are they frowned upon or do people let it slide or call them out on their behavior? Am I right to think my mom is being ridiculous and snooty to think that a nurse (or anybody for that matter) should not have to do "gross things" like clean up poo? I told her that she is welcome to tell me about music ANY time (she's a pianist/organist) but that when it comes to health care, she should be asking questions, not shoving her opinions down people's throats.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Even as a senior manager.......the day I think I'm too good to wipe butts is the day I need to hang up my stethoscope for good.

It's NOBODY'S idea of a good time---least of all the patient's!!--but when it must be done, it doesn't really matter what the initials are behind the name on the badge. All of us learn this basic task very early in our caregiving careers, and there's no excuse not to do it when the situation calls for it. End of story.

[Davey Do]

My guess is your Mom is less like Amanda Stinchecum who authored Everyone Poops and is more like Peter Griffin, who is responsible for That's Concentrated Evil Coming Out the Back of You, eh, studentnurseanna?

[Miss Irene]

When I worked with the one Nursing agency I picked up shifts at a hospital rehabilitation center. At that facility everyone took part in the menial tasks. I was in shock to see LPN's & RN's taking patients to the bathroom & giving showers - it was a nice change of pace. I have become acustom to the average Nurse yelling down the hall for an aide. I have seen Nurses who think they are too good to get up and go after an alarm, but yet god forbid the patient falls and she has to do an incident report.

In my opinion the Nurse's who refuse to assist residents/patients with adl's are just paycheck employees - they are there for one reason and one reason only, and honestly do not care about the patients well being. The few Nurses who do lend a hand & help patients with their adl's are a wonderful asset to Nursing. I have met a few Nurse's who care enough to help the aide's when needed. Where I work now there is only one RN Supervisor (the LPNs are just med pushers) who will help out on the floor. All of us @ work have more respect for her than we do all of the other Nurses combined.

It sounds like you'll be a great Nurse, the Nursing field needs more Nurses like you! Best of Luck...

[trauma_lama, BSN]

thanks a lot everybody! i hope i will be able to live up to my own expectations of what a nurse should be like...it is NOT a paycheck job! unless you're called to the field, then i don't think you should be doing it. it's nice to hear from people actually in the field speak about their experiences. now if only i could get a CNA job while i'm in nursing school so i can learn firsthand from nurses i would REALLY be golden! and davey, haha! that's a great episode. except my mom is way funnier than peter

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

My nursing unit (Family Birth Center) has no CNA's.....so yes, the RNs do all the menial tasks, including washing the beds and emptying the trash.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Most of the times nights on my unit has no tech - so the nurses are it. It's not that big a deal, honestly. Obviously, some things take priority - a patient emergency or a need for pain meds, for example - but if I can do it and it helps my patient, it's not 'beneath' me. We clean patients up (usually fresh post-ops, after that, most can do their ADLS w/o help), take out trash, wipe down equipment, run errands, whatever. VLV had it right above - the day I think I'm 'too good' to do that sort of thing is the day I need to find alternative employment.

PS - when I am in the nursery, I feel like all I do all night long is clean up poo.

[KarmaWiseRaven]

Moms are great at times . But don't be so quick to judge her she just wants to make sure you will be happy in your career choice. Mom's have a way to try to put themselves in to your shoes and they think Hmm i don't like this so maybe my child might not.

But showing her your passion and how you really want this your mother will calm down. Then she will be bragging to her friends my daughter is a nurse she works here she's doing this or that.

I think a CNA job would be good for you. It teaches you BNS ( Basic Nursing Skills) and if you can't do those best not try to be a nurse because that's where it starts. Trust me i couldn't even make a proper bed when i started.

Good Luck to you and your nursing.... Anthony

[MurseChris]

Cleaning patients is everyone's job. Sure, sometimes we have to delegate the task to CNAs if we have more urgent matters to attend to, but no one should think they're above it.

As for mothers, lol, mine avoids the issue altogether by working as a nursing supervisor.

[Theprinceteam]

No we are not above any patient care!

But keep in mind that you are a pseudo administrator of your assigned area so depending on your workload and those working with you, go give the IV and have the nurse aid clean the patient. What, no IV? looks like the perfect opportunity to asses the patient's skin ;-)

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

There are many nights when I feel more like my CNA's aide then the Nurse! Those poor girls run from one end of the unit to the other trying to answer all the call-bells, requests and do thier assignments at the same time. So, if I'm in the room (or the hallway) and a patient needs cleaning, or toileting, I have no problem rolling up my sleeves and doing it. Tho I have to admit there have been many times I had to go looking for the CNA to ask if the person was 1 assist, can they stand or transfer. I move around so much in my faculity (2 floors/ 4 units) that sometimes I don't get to learn these things. The CNA's and the patients appreciate the help. Every once in a while a patient will tell me it's not my job to do that, I just smile and say "Why Not???" then help them out.

[LTCangel, ADN, BSN, LPN]

ADLs is Basic Nursing 101 along with handwashing and making beds. I have ALWAYS assisted my patients along with Nursing assistants and other Nurses with basic patient care, and yes it might mean poo. To be able to do this for someone usually would never think they would need this kind of help, is a way of connecting with the patient, protecting their dignity and their help. I hope if I am ever a patient and cannot perform basic ADLs for myself, that someone, anyone, will help me and not make me feel less of a human being for it. IMO, there are many other bodily fluids worse than poo!