Disposable chux or washable?

[Sue Damones]

In our ICU, we have been using the blue disposable chux on top of a "hamburger style folded" sheet placed lengthwise under the patient as a drawsheet. Now, I really like the disposable blue pads because when it gets saturated or full of liquid stool, we can simply throw it in red bag trash. It seems clean to me and works well.

This week, I heard we are supposed to be going to NO draw sheet and we are getting those big re-usable fabric chux instead of the disposable ones.

Most of us are NOT happy... as we think the old way was better!

Can any of you tell me what you use, what you prefer, and perhaps if you know of any research that shows what is better for the patient? I was told that the re-usable ones are better for skin, but what about infection? I think it's gross to reuse those pads after some C-Diff pt has stooled all over it, even if it HAS been laundered.

Thanks!:redpinkhe

[suzanne4, RN]

I love the large fabric ones, they are wonderful. Have been using them the past couple of years and they are great. No need for the disposable ones or the extra sheet that you use with them.

The special disposable ones are only used with special airbeds, otherwise the fabric ones are wonderful.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

Our ICU uses the disposable, but the extended care unit uses the extra large cloth washable ones, and I have been known to raid thier linnen room to get to them. I prefer the cloth.

You will be pleasently surprised.

[mrod, LPN, LVN]

We use both and it depends on preference in our ICU/SICU unit. The standard is the fabric one on top of a sheet. Some nurses still use the draw sheet as well but I do not like the draw sheet because it gets "bunchie" under the skin.

The fabric ones stay taught for the most part and I use two usually, that way when when gets up on their neck, you can pull it out and you still have another.

The blue ones I usually used for "leakage" like it someone is third spacing and weepie, or when removing an A-line so I won't get anthing dirty or especially for NGT, again so I will not get anything dirty.

I like both depending on what I use them for.

[SillyStudent, ASN, RN]

:coollook:The big fabric ones are great! We use them in our entire facility.

Except when your patient has skin issues, etc. They really do not pull the moisture away from the skin. (maybe some of you have better ones in your hospitals) We have the big blue disposable chux as well, but there is another disposable kind that is white, and totally pulls the moisture away from the patient. We poured a whole lot of water into one recently and the top was completely dry.

So, yay on the pads for ease of moving the patient, and for absorbing messes, but BOO for patients with big skin issues, weeping, pressure ulcers, etc.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

:coollook:The big fabric ones are great! We use them in our entire facility.

Except when your patient has skin issues, etc. They really do not pull the moisture away from the skin. (maybe some of you have better ones in your hospitals) We have the big blue disposable chux as well, but there is another disposable kind that is white, and totally pulls the moisture away from the patient. We poured a whole lot of water into one recently and the top was completely dry.

So, yay on the pads for ease of moving the patient, and for absorbing messes, but BOO for patients with big skin issues, weeping, pressure ulcers, etc.

oooh, those big white burn pads are really really neat. They must contain some sort of magical beans, because nothing should be THAT absorbent!

But yeah, I adore the big blue (or pink or green or whatever color your facility gets) pads. They're so much easier to throw on the bed than a folded sheet, because well, there's no folding! And the disposable ones can be a good addition to them, for the occasional patient that needs them for something special. But they really do seem more comfortable than the disposable ones for being right next to skin and they can be used as a draw sheet.

[nightmare, RN]

The big fabric ones,we call them 'kylies' ,are great but can't be used on top of air flow mattresses because they can cause pressure areas.I like the small white ones instead of garments because they let the air in and keep urine away from the skin.

[nurse2009]

We use both kinds of Chux the disposable and the cloth. For the patients with C-Diff they are put in a special laundry bag that disolves and is not touched by anyone else. It is also specially laundered. I prefer the cloth over the disposable because it is more absorbant. I have see the disposable irritate the patients skin when it rinkles and sticks to the patients skin.

Tricia

[RN1982]

We only use washable in our ICU. So unless the patient needs a rectal tube or pouch, they will get stooled. I don't mind though. I'd rather use cloth than the disposable because I think the disposable just traps more moisture on the skin causing more skin breakdown.

[daisybaby, LPN]

The fabric ones are great!

[RNperdiem, RN]

My ICU switched over to the cloth underpads. I much prefer the underpads; they are thick, soft and durable.

The trouble with sheets and chux is that the bed looks neat when first changed, then looks all bunched up in a couple of hours.

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

We use either depending on what type of mattress the patient is on. We use the blue disposable ones for our patients that are on low air loss mattresses and the washable cloth ones for all other patients.

I think the cloth ones do a better job containing stool. I find the disposable ones, especially with patients passing liquid stool, get saturated through the pad and sheet to the mattress too easily, whereas the cloth ones do not. Plus, when changing linens it is a hassle to get the disposable ones into the trash and the sheets into the linen basket...with the cloth ones, all goes in the linen basket.