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

[Sue Damones]

Hmm ok, well I hope I end up liking them... I guess it's hard to do something different when you get used to a certain way!!

:)

Thanks for all the replies!!

:heartbeat

[suzanne4, RN]

If you are placing the disposable chux between a folded over sheet, it is not any different when sending that sheet to the laundry than just a poop pad alone.

Trust me you will get used to them and actually love them. Please come back and let us know how you like them.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

We havent used the draw sheet for years and years. The fabric chux are strong enough they double as an easy aid to pull a patient up in bed. They are also more absorbant than the disposable ones in my opinion.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

In my facility we trialed for a week disposable pads and I liked them. They helped keep the urine away from the patients skin and held about 1 liter of fluid.

We were instructed to use them with a draw sheet and I found they worked very well. do not know if we will change to them though.

Currently we use reusable fabric pads.

[puggy232]

Cloth, I think facilities are becoming environmently aware and the cost for disposing of infectcious waste. The cloths one are much better for the skin I think, absorb the fluids stay way from the skin.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Cloth, I think facilities are becoming environmently aware and the cost for disposing of infectcious waste. The cloths one are much better for the skin I think, absorb the fluids stay way from the skin.

I don't think it hs anything to do with environmental awareness, just saving pennies. In this case though, I think it's an ok way to save pennies.:)

[stelon]

The hospital I work in uses the big fabric ones as well. I prefer them for sure over the standard blue chux. They're wider, and if a patient does BM all over it they're far less likely to get the bottom sheet in it too. I think it irritates the skin less, they're amazing for pulling patients up in bed, are stronger than the disposables, and just seem to be better overall.

We also have to use the disposables for the air mattress beds. I despise the disposables compared to our nice big fabric pads.

[Xbox Live Addict]

In every LTC I ever worked in, they used cloth pads, except on air mattresses, where the pad defeated the purpose of the air mattress (then they used breathable disposables). The pads worked great when they were brand-new. After a while, though, they would shrink, and both the absorbent material and the backing (which was originally fluid-tight) would lose their efficacy.

The cloth pads are routinely used to reposition residents; draw sheets are only used for those with plastic disposable pads.

Unfortunately, many LTCs would use the pads until the absorbent material was rough and ragged, and the green backing absolutely tattered and useless. Hospitals probably don't use these pads as heavily as LTC do and order more of them as well. I did, of course, notice that the facilities would suddenly get new shipments of brand-new pads in... right around the time management was expecting the annual State survey....

[suzanne4, RN]

In my facility we trialed for a week disposable pads and I liked them. They helped keep the urine away from the patients skin and held about 1 liter of fluid.

We were instructed to use them with a draw sheet and I found they worked very well. do not know if we will change to them though.

Currently we use reusable fabric pads.

If you are using them with a sheet, then you are defeating the purpose of using them to begin with. Skin does not breathe as well thru the sheet.

Have been at several places where they trialed the disposables again, and that lasted just a week or two. Everyone protested and they went back to the cloth ones. If you are using the sheet, then it is not saving any money for the facility and not improving the skin either.

[mshultz]

This is why I hang out here. I have come across the word "chux" on this site, but did not make the connection until this thread. They had a blue disposable chux under me when I was in the ICU. The nurse had to explain to me that it belonged beneath me when I started to get back into bed. I had no idea what it was for.

At any rate, I was continent, or toilet trained, or housebroken; something like that

[NeosynephRN]

We also use the cloth pads...I really like them, I think they are super effective!! Hopefully the transition will be smooth!

[RNBelle]

i have to add to the post. You will LOVE the cloth ones! They are so much better than the blue ones, they dont tear when you are trying to move a patient up in bed. Sometimes the disposable plastic ones make the patient really sweaty if you have that and then another sheet or 2 under them.