Calling briefs "diapers"....*vent*

[cherrybreeze]

This has to be one of my BIGGEST pet peeves, from way back when I was a CNA. Maybe *technically* they are diapers, but COME ON....how disprespectful can you get? I call them Depends or briefs, it at least maintains SOME dignity for the patient. Especially if they are post op, say, and are having trouble controlling their bowels as function returns to normal, and they've never had to wear them before. It's rude and demeaning.

I read an LPN's narrative charting a few weeks ago, where she actually WROTE the term "diaper." Now it's in that person's chart for all eternity. Great. Aside from the fact that it isn't something that even needs to be PUT in the narrative notes (this LPN is notorious for that, though, but that's a whole other story).

Just had to get that out.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

Gosh, I just imagine a new nurse being pecked to death by the whole flock for naming a piece of personal care for what it is. Surprisingly, nobody yet came to define using the word "diaper" as an "important safety issue".

Where are all these jobs where CNAs and nurses have enough time to get petty about such "issues"? Which schools and which instructors charge students for "teaching" them this nonsense instead of gazillion of things they must know in order to play safely with human lives??

(disclaimer: I was on the patient's side in ICU multiple times. I do not care for a split second what is named what, I care for stuff being used appropriately. Please keep it dry and clean and use the brand I am not sensitive to and name it "pampers" or Yves Saint Loraine, as you wish).

[Elaken]

At my work we tend to call the pull-ups briefs and the ones that have the sticky tabs diapers. Otherwise you have to use a lot more words to ask what you need. I am not often talking to the patient about them since if they are in the “diapers” it is because they aren’t able to get out of bed easily. So I just say “I am going to check if you are clean.”

And sometimes you have to say diaper because a patient just doesn’t understand “brief.”

[tsw318]

From the perspective of a patient who wears tabbed diapers due to mild incontinence from being a quadriplegic (even though I have a suprapubic catheter, I still experience leakage from bladder spasms and a weak sphincter), I would MUCH rather my caregivers refer to them as diapers. I make my request of each regular caregiver and that I appreciate their speaking on my terms, but I would never be demanding about it and insist upon it if it makes him or her uncomfortable or if a caregiver is seeing multiple patients and has to keep everyone's needs/wishes/conditions straight. That is just rude and inconsiderate.

[David Lubeski]

Tsw318 I agree with your opinions and preferences I have injured sphincter muscle as well as weak in the the orifice and rectum areas and I experience more difficulty with fecal incontinence than bladder incontinence so I am supremely comfortable in the soft,warm thickly padded diapers they are best at containment and fit most snugly the plastic covered ones are my favourite just harder to adjust without tearing them.