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).
For all of you "A Rose is a Rose" people - let me tell you that the words DO make a difference. I will be honest and say that I am very upset to see so many of those kinds of responses.
If you think along those lines we could still call people who have mental disabilities "Retards", right? or use a variety of racial and ethnic slurs because the words don't matter - everyone knows what group you are talking about anyway -- It's only words so why should it matter?
While that's a rather extreme example it is an EQUAL example to those who want to constantly remind adults that they are wearing a DIAPER (or nappie or pamper"). I'm sensative to this topic right now because my 80 year old Father is now in the hospital with a brain lesion. And the placement of that lesion has caused him to be incontinent of urine.
He was a sucessful businessman, raised 6 children and all of us went to college. He taught classes in church, served on the city council. He always took care of himself and was once nominated for the "best dressed" list of a local charity. He is alert but weak and having to wear "Diapers" is humiliating and embarrassing to him.
The insensitivity of the nursing staff towards this issue is absolutely appalling. They think nothing of entering his room while he has visitors and asking everyone to step out because "it's time to change his diaper". or rolling him over while I am in the room to "check for pee pee in your diaper"...and while I am a long term nurse, I am still his daughter and he's still a grown man who deserves not to be treated like an infant!
Call those things "underwear", "paper underwear" - it takes no more effort than calling them diapers and the difference is allowing someone a bit of dignity, and whether you think it's necessary or not doesn't really matter - it's our patients that matter.
We are (too) quickly approaching a point in our profession at which changing the name of just about everything is approaching the ridiculous. Examples include:
PCA - can be a pain control device or a "Personal Care Assistant Or Aide)"
EMD - used to mean "Electromechanical Dissociation"; now refers to Emergency Medical Dispatcher"
ER - use this term and some look at you like you have three heads because they prefer "ED" although the vast majority of people still call it the ER (blame the old George Clooney TV show?)... and did not Bob Dole used to do commercials for a product for ED?
Issue - often used when "problem" is really more appropriate... issues are that which are discussed; problems are that which are to be solved
PCU (Progressive Care Unit) - what about patients from the other side of the (political) aisle...should there also be a CCU (Conservative Care Unit)?
PACU - that one (most still refer to it as the Recovery Room) resembles the name of a fish from south of the Equator and is related to the Piranha.
BSU - what ever happened to the term "Mental Health Unit"... is mental health really such a bad thing to have? What happens when people stop calling it the Behavioral Services Unit and shorten it to the "BS Unit"?
Diaper - I have seen the term used to describe the flat fabric pads placed beneath a patient's buttocks in the bed, chair, or wheelchair. It may also refer to a disposable device used by an incontinent person. Heck, many who wear them refer to the disposable ones as such. Maybe we should not call them "Depends", as that refers to a brand (what about "Attends"?). Should there be a special inpatient unit for those ho experience loss of bowel/bladder control? It could be called the ICU (Incontinence Care Unit). This one could go on for days or longer... where's the Energizer Bunny smiley (but I digress - or is it regress)?
At the end of the day, it is what it is, but what about the beginning of the day... is it not what it is (bearing in mind that the end of any given day is the beginning of the next day)?
I am getting somewhat "cliche'd out"... I gotta go. :grn:
We are (too) quickly approaching a point in our profession at which changing the name of just about everything is approaching the ridiculous. Examples include:
PCA - can be a pain control device or a "Personal Care Assistant Or Aide)"
EMD - used to mean "Electromechanical Dissociation"; now refers to Emergency Medical Dispatcher"
ER - use this term and some look at you like you have three heads because they prefer "ED" although the vast majority of people still call it the ER (blame the old George Clooney TV show?)... and did not Bob Dole used to do commercials for a product for ED?
Issue - often used when "problem" is really more appropriate... issues are that which are discussed; problems are that which are to be solved
PCU (Progressive Care Unit) - what about patients from the other side of the (political) aisle...should there also be a CCU (Conservative Care Unit)?
PACU - that one (most still refer to it as the Recovery Room) resembles the name of a fish from south of the Equator and is related to the Piranha.
BSU - what ever happened to the term "Mental Health Unit"... is mental health really such a bad thing to have? What happens when people stop calling it the Behavioral Services Unit and shorten it to the "BS Unit"?
Diaper - I have seen the term used to describe the flat fabric pads placed beneath a patient's buttocks in the bed, chair, or wheelchair. It may also refer to a disposable device used by an incontinent person. Heck, many who wear them refer to the disposable ones as such. Maybe we should not call them "Depends", as that refers to a brand (what about "Attends"?). Should there be a special inpatient unit for those ho experience loss of bowel/bladder control? It could be called the ICU (Incontinence Care Unit). This one could go on for days or longer... where's the Energizer Bunny smiley (but I digress - or is it regress)?
At the end of the day, it is what it is, but what about the beginning of the day... is it not what it is (bearing in mind that the end of any given day is the beginning of the next day)?
I am getting somewhat "cliche'd out"... I gotta go. :grn:
Number one, how the heck is any of this relevant, and number two, does it really matter if Depends and Attends are brands? You can't tell me you don't use the terms "Q-tip" and "Band Aid," and those are brands, too. What about Kleenex? I suppose you only say, "cotton swab," "adhesive bandage," and "facial tissue."
You didn't say that in your OP. You were talking about what was written in the chart.
Did you even read the whole post? The second part of it talked about the charting...the first part talked about dignity and respect for the patient. Not exactly a point that could be missed?
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I think it is fine if some patients/families are ok with the term Diaper, but the people that are not fine with it are REALLY not fine with it and good luck having me think you are anything but a jerk if you refer to me or my family members "diaper" unless it is a baby.
I think many of you do not realize how utterly demeaning it is to us so it really doesn't matter if soem are ok with it because it will decimate any chance of a decent relationship with many.
1. You could be the most educated and experienced nurse, open your mouth and lose all credibility. If I were incontinent and a nurse walked in and said we're going to change your diaper, I'd tell her to go change someone else's because she wasn't my nurse anymore.
2. I've seen nursing instructors eat nursing students who call it a diaper. After a clinical failure, they seem to never say it again.
I would feel extremely uncomfortable calling a brief, or a pad, or underwear a diaper, unless my patient was a baby. Here we say briefs. I would be okay with a pad or underwear. Not diaper.
I want to respond to the comment about Storeroom items. It must be true that they work very hard to diguise what they stock, i.e. "face wipes paper" for tissues as oppose to "face wipes wet" for pre-moistened wipes. I had to translate out storeroom order form for the clerk so she could do the order. As for the topic, I believe "diapers" are for babies.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
At the end of the day, it is what it is, but what about the beginning of the day... is it not what it is (bearing in mind that the end of any given day is the beginning of the next day)?
I am getting somewhat "cliche'd out"... I gotta go. :grn:
At the beginning of the day, we would not be having this discussion, because we never put diapers on adults. Really, the context has been completely reframed. It happened while I was away on the Mommy Track. Clearly staff convenience trumped patient dignity at some point. I would love to know when. Perhaps at the same time uniforms became "scrubs".
Some of the acronymic neologisms you list are funny, and I will continue to say "ER" and "impotent" as my own personal rage against the machine thing, but those things that humiliate people shouldn't be put on that list. By the way, what is the code for that new condition I saw on TV the other day? "Low-T" g r o a n
Number one, how the heck is any of this relevant, and number two, does it really matter if Depends and Attends are brands? You can't tell me you don't use the terms "Q-tip" and "Band Aid," and those are brands, too. What about Kleenex? I suppose you only say, "cotton swab," "adhesive bandage," and "facial tissue."
For all of you "A Rose is a Rose" people - let me tell you that the words DO make a difference. I will be honest and say that I am very upset to see so many of those kinds of responses.
If you think along those lines we could still call people who have mental disabilities "Retards", right? or use a variety of racial and ethnic slurs because the words don't matter - everyone knows what group you are talking about anyway -- It's only words so why should it matter?
While that's a rather extreme example it is an EQUAL example to those who want to constantly remind adults that they are wearing a DIAPER (or nappie or pamper"). I'm sensative to this topic right now because my 80 year old Father is now in the hospital with a brain lesion. And the placement of that lesion has caused him to be incontinent of urine.
He was a sucessful businessman, raised 6 children and all of us went to college. He taught classes in church, served on the city council. He always took care of himself and was once nominated for the "best dressed" list of a local charity. He is alert but weak and having to wear "Diapers" is humiliating and embarrassing to him.
The insensitivity of the nursing staff towards this issue is absolutely appalling. They think nothing of entering his room while he has visitors and asking everyone to step out because "it's time to change his diaper". or rolling him over while I am in the room to "check for pee pee in your diaper"...and while I am a long term nurse, I am still his daughter and he's still a grown man who deserves not to be treated like an infant!
Call those things "underwear", "paper underwear" - it takes no more effort than calling them diapers and the difference is allowing someone a bit of dignity, and whether you think it's necessary or not doesn't really matter - it's our patients that matter.
TY for sharing this. I'm horrified and hope that it serves as a reminder to anyone who might need one. Asking people to leave the room doesn't have to come with an explanation as to why. It's not the visitors business unless the patient makes it so. And we don't check pee pee in a diaper for a freakin' adult. That's just despicable. I would talk to the staff in a kind but firm way. They need a reminder. I'm praying for your father, you, and your family. God bless you all.
ummmm, just a thought - but if staff "announces" to visitors anything regarding the patient's continence or lack thereof - isn't that a HIPPA (dreaded word!) violation. It is afterall, a MEDICAL condition!
If it was my family member I would DEFINITELY do everything possible to put a stop to it! Totally condescending and uncalled for
Yes, I've had a few very pointed conversations about my dad's care. It's so upsetting and disappointing to see nurses do such a shoddy job caring for patients.
I'm a great cheerleader for the nursing profession and I know how good nursing care can positively affect patient outcome. So far, the big-city MAGNET status hospital my dad is in has placed a urinary catherter when none was ordered, dropped his meds on his table for him to take himself when he couldn't move his arms and had a swallowing deficit, made an error transcribing a medication error so that he recieved 3 days of 3 X the normal dose of one med, and he ended up with local inflammation at the site of an IV that had been left for 5 days and had no label stating time and date.
Suffice to say...there have been some high ranking executives talking to me this week.
And there are a couple of posts in this thread doing what I perceive to be Griping because things are changing, and why should they use the word "underwear" for diaper.
Let me be the first to say this -- The medical profession changes on a regular basis - if you thought you were working in a static field you are mistaken. Things are a lot different now than when I graduated from college and it will change another 360 degrees before I get out of this profession.
If you can't deal with change OR the improvements that are constantly being rolled out -- you need to get out of this profession.
We change because we are trying to do better by our patients -- not stay stuck in some rut because that's the way you "used" to do it. And our patients, their care, their dignity and their safety should be the first thing we things about...not fighting to keep the same old bad habits.
I want to respond to the comment about Storeroom items. It must be true that they work very hard to diguise what they stock, i.e. "face wipes paper" for tissues as oppose to "face wipes wet" for pre-moistened wipes. I had to translate out storeroom order form for the clerk so she could do the order. As for the topic, I believe "diapers" are for babies.
Huzzah! I cant tell of the times I have had to call CS because I could not find how they listed items in thier order set. "Bag, catheter" instead of "foley drainage bag"? type in "colostomy" and not be able to find "bags, colostomy" listed?" Come on, when did computer geeks take over our profession?
LotsofExperience
9 Posts
For all of you "A Rose is a Rose" people - let me tell you that the words DO make a difference. I will be honest and say that I am very upset to see so many of those kinds of responses.
If you think along those lines we could still call people who have mental disabilities "Retards", right? or use a variety of racial and ethnic slurs because the words don't matter - everyone knows what group you are talking about anyway -- It's only words so why should it matter?
While that's a rather extreme example it is an EQUAL example to those who want to constantly remind adults that they are wearing a DIAPER (or nappie or pamper"). I'm sensative to this topic right now because my 80 year old Father is now in the hospital with a brain lesion. And the placement of that lesion has caused him to be incontinent of urine.
He was a sucessful businessman, raised 6 children and all of us went to college. He taught classes in church, served on the city council. He always took care of himself and was once nominated for the "best dressed" list of a local charity. He is alert but weak and having to wear "Diapers" is humiliating and embarrassing to him.
The insensitivity of the nursing staff towards this issue is absolutely appalling. They think nothing of entering his room while he has visitors and asking everyone to step out because "it's time to change his diaper". or rolling him over while I am in the room to "check for pee pee in your diaper"...and while I am a long term nurse, I am still his daughter and he's still a grown man who deserves not to be treated like an infant!
Call those things "underwear", "paper underwear" - it takes no more effort than calling them diapers and the difference is allowing someone a bit of dignity, and whether you think it's necessary or not doesn't really matter - it's our patients that matter.