Cleaning patients after bowel movements.

Nurses General Nursing

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I hope this is not a stupid or idiot question. But, how do does a nursing staff member clean after a bowel movement using a bedpan, or from an accidental soiling of his or herself? Do you use like super strong and thick paper towels the size of bath towels?

On 7/29/2019 at 11:43 PM, Kidsrablast said:

clean after a bowel movement using a bedpan, or from an accidental soiling

I assess the degree of code brown, first degree, second degree or third degree. Always wear gloves and you may have to change gloves or wash hands with gloves on, depending on amount of spread.

First degree, toilet paper and skin barrier reapplication as needed. Just a swipe or two will do.

Second degree, toilet paper, pericleanser wipes or some such stuff, skin barrier reapplication as needed. Get the worst bit with the TP, then the remnants with the wipes and top off with barrier cream.

Third degree, a helper, rolls of toilet paper, lined trash can near by, extra bed pads, soapy water and clean water, scads of washcloths and towels, sheets and whatever else I think I might need, better to have it and not need than not have it and need, then clean and clean and clean, then skin barrier reapplication as needed. It might help to pop an Altoids it helps with tolerating whatever foulness that might be emanating from the source.

Rolling patient side to side with your helper and folding over and containing spillage in bed pads as you go, wiping multiple times from each side with TP and tossing wads of soiled TP into open waste container by each person and changing pads as often as necessary to keep patient from rolling back into soiling. When biggest part is cleaned up, start rolling patient side to side, when turned each person starts using soapy washcloths to clean the body, may also need to change any pads again if smears on them. How this generally works is one person holds the patient on their side while the other is on the posterior side cleaning, then roll over and the other person does the same on their side. Stay mindful of gloves so you don't have a big wad of ya know on your glove and you get it all over yourself, the bed or the poor patient. Keep repeating process till spic n span.

Hope I didn't miss anything. I wrote this up quick. One thing for sure......

They don't show this on "Dirty Jobs" on TV!!!!

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 7/29/2019 at 10:35 PM, caliotter3 said:

In the LTC facility, we CNA’s used to use regular white cotton wash cloths in the days before baby wipes. We would fill one of those plastic basins with warm, soapy water and go from room to room on night shift. Each resident got their own wash cloth treatment. Those wash cloths got their use. We got the majority of the ‘solid’ material with toilet paper before applying the wash cloth. The lost causes got wheeled down to the shower room if necessary.

I endorse this as well. Each wash cloth goes from wash cloth stack to warm water to poopy bum to laundry hamper. Don't rinse or reuse the cloth. You'll go through a lot of wash cloths but I still think it's more economical, skin-friendly and environment-friendly than anything else.

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2 minutes ago, TriciaJ said:

I endorse this as well. Each wash cloth goes from wash cloth stack to warm water to poopy bum to laundry hamper. Don't rinse or reuse the cloth. You'll go through a lot of wash cloths but I still think it's more economical, skin-friendly and environment-friendly than anything else.

Yep! That's how I learned way back before we wore gloves to do it.

Only I was taught to tuck the tail.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 7/30/2019 at 2:21 PM, Kidsrablast said:

I am wondering how you which a difficult task. If a simple question like my is odd how on earth is someone supposed to learn anything in nursing school when working in the real life situation. This is one reason why I spooked about nursing and never went through with my clinicals twenty years ago.

In nursing school you learn first from your instructors, then your preceptors in the clinical setting. Then when you get your first job, you learn from your new coworkers.

Some of us managed to become nurses before the internet was invented so we had to learn somehow.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 7/30/2019 at 6:53 PM, Kidsrablast said:

I feel I am being bullied about a question I had asked. If someone doesn't like my username tough! I just had asked what I thought was an innocent question. And saying I am not acting like an adult. I am a 47y/o and had almost validated for RN program clinical. Certain comment are the reason I had never followed through with it. And yet even now I ran into the same issue.

HELP!

You asked what on the surface was a simple question, but an unusual one for a nursing student to ask. You were asked about your situation so we could better help you address your problem. You're the one who has turned this into some kind of conflict, over what? Bullied? Oh, for heaven's sakes.

Unless you're caring for a loved one, forget about it. Nursing school is not in your cards. I'm not usually this blunt with people but this thread is really out there.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 7/31/2019 at 1:11 PM, Kidsrablast said:

Well I did receive a C grade in English 102 during my pre nursing tenure. I guess I didn't realize that RNs would let that bother them and ridicule me for it.

No one has ridiculed you. We're wondering if something is being misinterpreted on our part or yours. Sometimes a clearer mutual understanding can de-escalate a situation. Unless you want it escalated. We're still trying to give you the benefit of the doubt.

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We use gold old-fashioned washcloths. With a pericare cleaner. If they go on a bedpan, I put a chux in it to absorb. It takes two of us. One to turn and the other to wipe.

It takes about 10 minutes.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
44 minutes ago, LovingLife123 said:

We use gold old-fashioned washcloths. With a pericare cleaner. If they go on a bedpan, I put a chux in it to absorb. It takes two of us. One to turn and the other to wipe.

It takes about 10 minutes.

Wow, gold!, fancy schmancy. Is gold better for the skin than silver LOL.

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Just now, Daisy4RN said:

Wow, gold!, fancy schmancy. Is gold better for the skin than silver LOL.

Haaaaa!!! Didn’t see I made that error!! But yes, we are a very fancy unit. Nothing but the best for our patients!!

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.
5 hours ago, Forest2 said:

They don't show this on "Dirty Jobs" on TV!!!!

Gee, I recall one incident that would have been an entire 60 minute TV episode. ?

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.
5 hours ago, Forest2 said:

First degree, toilet paper and skin barrier reapplication as needed. Just a swipe or two will do.

Second degree, toilet paper, pericleanser wipes or some such stuff, skin barrier reapplication as needed. Get the worst bit with the TP, then the remnants with the wipes and top off with barrier cream.

Third degree, a helper, rolls of toilet paper, lined trash can near by, extra bed pads, soapy water and clean water, scads of washcloths and towels, sheets and whatever else I think I might need, better to have it and not need than not have it and need, then clean and clean and clean, then skin barrier reapplication as needed. It might help to pop an Altoids it helps with tolerating whatever foulness that might be emanating from the source.

Fourth degree,

???

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
5 minutes ago, Crash_Cart said:

Fourth degree,

???

Or Fifth degree ???

  1. Pretty sure i have had a few of those as well.
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