Dirty bed sheets/RN/CNA/UAP/CP

[STUNUR321]

I am a nursing student, and I've noticed at my clinical rotations that some RN's, CNA and other staff members will fix a patients bed (with the used sheets). I'm not saying this part is bad because the sheets don't look soiled or anything. Sometimes the patients want to sit in the chair and make the bed look nice. But I've noticed more than 3 times that the staff members will grab the sheet lift it up in the air back down to straighten it out. And I HATE this, because who knows what kind of stuff could be on the linen that you can't see! I swear I feel like stuff flies at me When they do this ! I just feel like it's not sanitary. Should I say something or is this okay? I'm honestly unsure. Please me help me! Should I be concerned?

[Queen Tiye, RN]

Great response, but wear gloves whenever handling used linen because you won't always see the germs. I have many patients that never wash their hands after having a bowel movement and they touch everything.

[bluescrubs, ADN, ASN, RN]

Great response, but wear gloves whenever handling used linen because you won't always see the germs. I have many patients that never wash their hands after having a bowel movement and they touch everything.

I cringed a little when I read this.

[future_RN, CNA]

At my job we have online training modules due every few months. One of ours last time was regarding linen. We were told only to change linen once per day, unless visibly soiled or requested by patient/family. If it's obvious the previous shift has changed the linen and/or documented that the linen has been changed and there is no visible soiling we are not supposed to change it. They told us how many lbs of laundry our facility used in a year, how much it cost them, and how much linen was lost. It is not smart financially to change the linen when it is not necessary, and fitted sheets are not supplied in the quantity that the other linens (flat sheets, blankets, towels) are. We get maybe 30-40 fitted sheets with our linen cart. If we changed every bed just because, we would have 6 left for "accidents" which isn't smart. Your concerns are in the right place, but your use of resources will take some time to adjust. And keep in mind, as a nursing student you are a guest on that floor who is there to learn. If there is no harm being done to the patient, it's better not to stir the pot. Especially when many hospitals have linen policies and according to what the staff was doing, it sounds like they were following one.

[Chaya, ASN, RN]

You're going to have SO many other things to worry about besides bed sheets.

Have you come in contact with semi-private rooms where patients are separated by a curtain hanging from the ceiling? I've never seen or heard of those being washed and I cringe every time I accidentally touch one. Still, I am alive and apparently healthy.

Where I worked they were actually taken down and washed after patients on precautions were discharged and the room was "purged".

[Sour Lemon]

Where I worked they were actually taken down and washed after patients on precautions were discharged and the room was "purged".

Sounds like a progressive place. Ours were NEVER washed or changed. EVER.

[AceOfHearts<3]

Great response, but wear gloves whenever handling used linen because you won't always see the germs. I have many patients that never wash their hands after having a bowel movement and they touch everything.

That's when education should take place. "Let's wash our hands before heading back to the chair/bed. It'll help us from getting sick."

Or "Here's some hand sanitizer Mrs. Jones (said while squirting it on the hand). Let's rub our hands together really well. Good hand hygiene helps prevent us from getting sick."

Or "Here's a hand sanitizing wipe. We're going to wipe our hands off really well to clean them so we don't get sick."

Both the facilities I've works at have given some type of hand sanitizer to patients- whether it is hand wipes with hand sanitizer on them or little bottles of hand sanitizer. At the one facility they would do rounds to make sure the patients had the wipes at the bedside. We were told to encourage patients to use them and tell them we'd give them a new pack when it was all used up. Both aides and nurses were supposed to do this.

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

Are you suggesting a new clean sheet be used every time you straightening out a bed.... about 5 times a day X 150 residents/patient ! Admin will fired super fast for waste and laundry techs will slash your tires for increased work load. You are a nursing student, your knowledge of real nursing is limited. Your main reason at the facility is to learn not change policies/process

I'm not there yet, but I agree. I love the "Laundry techs will slash your tires for increased work load" comment.

[Beldar_the_Cenobite, CNA]

you risk seriously ticking some off both nurses and management (who could be potential employers or references someday).

I've already done this to my lab instructor who worked at a place she taught us clinicals at in CNA school..

That's one place that I can't get hired at because I said something and it pissed them off. Not about policy or anything..just a note I left when filling out an application.

[mudd68]

Error.

[mudd68]

Sounds like a progressive place. Ours were NEVER washed or changed. EVER.

Same policy at our facility! Curtains down after any patient discharged that was in isolation. Then they are using a UV disinfection process as well as hand washing "monitors" - literally staff with clip boards who stand in the halls to watch and mark who is washing in and washing out (from house keeping to surgeons) - and for how long. Infections rates at our hospital have plummeted!

[DalekRN]

Not your place. You are there to learn and observe. It's perfectly fine to make up a used bed.

[CardiacDork, MSN, RN]

OP

Stop.