BM's anyone?

[SuperStarRN]

Is it just me or as a nurse do you find that everyone wants to talk you about their bowel movements? I work in dialysis which has nothing to do with GI health at all but I feel that I must have a sign on my forehead that asks "How are your bowels moving this week?" My patients come in, say good morning, and immediately dive right in to their constipation, diarrhea, immodium, and laxative issues. Why me? They feel free to burp in my face and think it's ok because they said excuse me. What is up with this? Just venting :-)

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Yeah it happens. At this point I am neither surprised or phased by anything.

[SuperStarRN]

How about the patient who is sitting there in a crowded room picking her nose like she is invisible. I mean really up there and without tissue. Flicks it into the corner and dozes off to sleep.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

For YEARS I've wondered if I have a sign on my back that says "tell me about your bowels".

I mean.. really.. why do people think we give a sh*t? (pun intended).

[SuperStarRN]

Too funny! My sentiments exactly!

[teeniebert, LPN]

I usually get accosted with skin issues--"what is this thing on my back?" or "does this look infected to you?"

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Often people assume I'm the pharmacist. I never get this.

???

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

I give a sh!t about cr@p it makes all the difference on a surgical floor!

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

Why is it always a sudden issue at 3am when the patient is on a service covered by the attending taking call at home? " Let the doctor know in the morning." PT- " NO I WANT A SUPPOSITORY/ENEMA NOW!" .............................................................

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

I sat on a plane last year for 2 hours and had this old woman next to me. She was a nice lady in many ways. I made the mistake of telling her I was a nurse. She then regaled me with stories of her ongoing health problems, and that of her dying hubby whom she cared for for years, and then told me her only son had been murdered years ago. Horrors. And of course she got onto the subject of BMs *sigh* All I wanted was a nice quiet flight, I'd been rushing around all morning & was not really in the mood. But she was so old & nice I couldn't BS my way into saying I wanted to sleep or whatever, cos I can't sleep on planes.

I suppose people feel comfortable with us cos they don't want to be judged so that is a good thing.

I've also cared for patients who are absolutely obsessed with their bowels. Had one psych patient who if she didn't have a bowel movement every 2 hours thought something was wrong with her. Patients like that fascinate me.

There's actually a book in the library in Adelaide that I've borrowed discussing BMs with pictures of what they look like, better bowel habits, etc. It's kind of a comedy book but written by a doctor. I think it's called the Big Book of Pooh or something, had a good laugh reading that one!

FORMULA: Nurse = BM, leads to incessant talking re BM.

[SuperStarRN]

Hey you really don't appreciate pooping until you can't poop!

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

Recipe to constipation success: 1/2 cup of coffee+ one oz of lactulose+ one container of prune juice + 2 little butter containers, warm it up and = poop! Unless you have some serious bowel obstruction! Then NG!