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.

[Flipper911]

way back in day when I was in school we were instructed to call them briefs. So I went with what I was taught. However, in all the years I have been doing this job and over many states I count on one hand how many patients/families have called them briefs. They refer to them as diapers and I do not correct them - it is what they are comfortable with.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I call them "underpants" plain and simple for adults. "Brief" doesn't work for some because they have no clue what that means.

[Penguin67]

Recently, my mom had a colonoscopy and being on blood thinners, had some postop bleeding that resulted in a brief hospitalization, that involved wearing these things that the thread is about after a second colonoscopy to cauterize the former polyp sites that were still bleeding. She told me that she was getting used to wearing her "diapers" and was pretty good at getting them off and on herself. :-) I really never heard an adult call them diapers before, so that was a first for me. And she is pretty proud, so hearing her use that term was eye opening. I was always taught, like all of the other posters before me in this thread, to call them "attends" or "depends" but never a "diaper" for an adult. When I told her this, my mom told me she could call them whatever she wanted to. Can't argure with that!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Most of the residents where I've worked called them 'diapers' too, but I've always used the terms 'briefs', 'pants', and even 'britches', as in "Hey Ed, I think it's time to change your britches---that ain't Chanel No. 5 I'm smelling!" Cracked him up every time. And of course, I never said it where anyone else could hear it.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

The one thing I don't call them is diapers. I've been in health care forever and I don't recall what we called them back in the day, but I know it wasn't called a diaper. I normally call them briefs and my LTC residents know what it is. If they chose to call it a diaper they have that right. We also have "pull ups" which are the item that the person steps into like a pair of underwear.

I personally cringe when I hear others call them diapers (that includes when the resident who is wearing the item calls it a diaper or family members).

My choosing to call them briefs has nothing to do with being PC or for patients dignity reasons..when I hear "diaper" I think baby..not grown adult.

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

Always use the term pad, never, ever diaper.

For a "bib" I use shirt protector or apron. Never bib.

[CNL2B]

The product in question is actually labeled "diaper" by size in our stockroom. I never really thought about that not being the appropriate term, although it makes sense that it isn't.

I usually avoid labeling briefs altogether. I usually just say something about needing to be changed, or checking your bottom, etc. Probably I am a little uncomfortable with any of the labels myself.

[LovebugLPN]

The residents can call them whatever they want. I had one who called it his "banana hammock". Do any of you feel that I should call it that since that is what he calls it? No? Well then the whole thought that since the residents call them diapers we should is pathetic. I am pretty sure they can figure out briefs and depends. Give them a little credit and stop treating them like children.

[kids]

I call them whatever the resident does.

I think calling the pull on type 'pull ups' is no different than calling the taped type diapers. Pull Ups are a well recognized brand of pull on toddler training pants (diapers).

[6mostogo]

Foreign terms drilled into my head when I was in CNA training:

patient = resident

diapers = briefs or Depends

bib = clothing protector

toileting is a verb

poop = BM

I'm not sure they still teach this in my area, or if they do, its not as emphasized as I remember. These just roll off my tongue without having to think about it anymore. Some of these new aide look at me like have two heads when I report Ms. So-and-so was last toileted at such-and-such time.

For the most part, residents have always looked at me like I have two heads the first time they hear "BM" and I usually have to break down after a few rounds of "Can I assist you with your clothing protector" and just say bib. But I still cringe when hear it. It's better to show an attempt to maintain the pt dignity than to show total disregard. And it's much easier for an A&O resident s/p CVA to accept the use of a clothing protector than a bib - good for his dignity, good for me, one less shirt to change. Just saying.

[steelydanfan]

I know a lot of people who refer to ANY disposable infant diaper as "Pampers." I really don't think people mean any harm by it...and families and patients or residents (or clients or customers or whatever) can call it whatever they want to. I think I would be a little hurt if I asked the nurse to change my mother's diaper and she came back with, "I would be happy to change her BRIEF." Note the emphasis on the word brief... We hear a lot worse terms from families and residents...we can forgive diaper too.

I find that families too often get sucked into infantilizing thier family member WAAYY before anyone else. "Mama needs a straw", "Mama needs to be turned", "Mama, Mama, Mama". All thier solicitude often winds up with Mama deciding she is helpless, and reinforcing these ideas to get the attention.

That's why I think it is so important that nurses stick to the basic tenets of nursing practice: Identify your pt.s life stage , and treat them accordingly. Adjust for anomalies. Develop a care and teaching plan sensitive to the above. Involve the family, as able. In the end, this is really the best you can do.

[shiccy]

It's all in the eye of the beholder. There are many MANY patients that will call briefs "diapers". No matter WHAT they're called, for many people that suffer from incontinence for whatever reason, having briefs (or diapers) in existence is something that allows them to be autonomous. They allow for them to get around in their daily lives and not have to worry about having an accident. Their "diapers" give them freedom.

I was taught in nursing school that it is 'offensive' to call them diapers because it makes the patient(s) feel like they're incompetent or like they're less of a human. The educators in MY school hammered into my head that briefs were NOT to be called diapers. That said I get very uneasy when patients tell me to get them a new diaper... I wouldn't use it in my charting, personally, but a brief is a diaper is a brief. They're one in the same thing. It's like saying toe-mae-toe or toe-mah-toe ... they're one in the same thing, and, technically, neither is incorrect.