Cleaning patients after bowel movements.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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 8/2/2019 at 6:56 PM, Daisy4RN said:

Or Fifth degree ???

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

I’m pretty sure that’s where the shower chair and detachable faucet hose come into play if status permits (assuming they are well enough physically to be able to shower).

years ago the chair left another trail of code brown on the way to the shower room-hind sight I think the poor guy thought he was sitting on a rolling toilet. This was back in the days when rehab units had one large shower room for the whole 20 bed floor.

1 Votes
On 8/2/2019 at 8:02 PM, Leader25 said:

Did the nurse poop on her own self?

Glad I’m not the only one who had to read that a couple times to try to figure out what was being asked. My first thought was toilet paper, soap, disposable towels, spare change of undergarments and scrubs in locker, and lesson learned not to eat cafeteria food or left over junk food for lunch at work!

5 Votes
3 hours ago, NurseSpeedy said:

.... I’m just saying, there are better reliable sources out there.

Are you saying we don't know (four letter word for BM) ? ?

4 Votes
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Something I don't think was mentioned here: If it's truly a hellacious mess, put on a patient gown over your scrubs before starting the cleaning process. You'll be glad you did.

10 Votes
Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.
9 hours ago, TriciaJ said:

Something I don't think was mentioned here: If it's truly a hellacious mess, put on a patient gown over your scrubs before starting the cleaning process. You'll be glad you did.

Or a plastic apron.

3 Votes
14 hours ago, K+MgSO4 said:

Or a plastic apron.

Heck, just break out the HAZMAT suit

2 Votes

arm full of warm Bath wipes , and alot of prayer

1 Votes
Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Should we mention that poop comes out in surprising places?

A missile from a cognitively impaired patient, fistulae, stomas and my own personal favourite faceal vomiting.

1 Votes
11 hours ago, K+MgSO4 said:

Should we mention that poop comes out in surprising places?

A missile from a cognitively impaired patient, fistulae, stomas and my own personal favourite faceal vomiting.

I've only witnessed that one time and man I will never ever forget that experience.

1 Votes
Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.
23 hours ago, CharleeFoxtrot said:

I've only witnessed that one time and man I will never ever forget that experience.

It is confronting isn't it? I can only imagine how horrific it would taste...

3 Votes
Specializes in Corrections, Dementia/Alzheimer's.
On 8/2/2019 at 5:56 PM, Daisy4RN said:

Or Fifth degree ???

This reminds me of a 107 year old woman with poop all over her dress, the bed, the curtain, all up in her hair and nails, she's screaming and scratching at my face. I ended up letting her gum my gloved hand so she would stop fighting, but it made her angry when she found out it didn't hurt.

That mess took a while. Then I got berated for my time management. :facepalm:

2 Votes
Specializes in Corrections, Dementia/Alzheimer's.
On 8/1/2019 at 3:14 PM, PiperLambie said:

I'm guessing that "immediately call ED to floor report and let transport take them" is not what we're going for in this thread??

How about the administrator in her nice office clothes?

2 Votes
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