Do degrees mean nurses will not 'dirty' their hands?

Nursing Students ADN/BSN

Published

From the BBC UK; Has anyone experienced this... I have and I work in the US.

Do degrees mean nurses will not 'dirty' their hands?

The training changes that have given students the opportunity of getting a degree in nursing at university have provoked fears that the basic care of patients will suffer.

Two University of Surrey researchers conducted a study that showed the modern student nurse does not always see it as their role to do the 'dirty' things like cleaning up blood and faeces.

Dr Helen Allen, director, and Pam Smith, professor of nursing, say it was not an attack on nurses but on a health system that devalues care.

Our study 'How student nurses' supernumerary status affects the way they think about nursing: a qualitative study' was headlined on some websites as 'clearing up poo will not help me learn - student nurses reject basic care'.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8455266.stm

Published: 2010/01/13 05:49:55 GMT

© BBC MMX

Specializes in Clinicals in Med-Surg., OB, CCU, ICU.

I am confused by this report. I am actually finishing my last semester of nursing school with my rotation in my preceptor in CCU. Every day, and several times a day, I am cleaning up poo or blood. I have not thought twice about it. I accept it as a routine and easy part of my job. It also gives me an opportunity to assess the patient additionally. I also empty the Foley catheters and urinals. I also assist patients with eating if need be, and do complete bed baths occasionally. Oh my job sucks? I think NOT... :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for all your responses - very interesting. I work in the US. I posted because recently a student would not answer her pt.'s call light. She knew the pt. was on the BSC and the CNA was busy. When I pointed out that her pt. was calling, she said the CNA would answer. On the other hand, the student wasn't doing anything... having only a couple of pts. I hasten to add that most of the students that have worked with me have had a completely different attitude.

I trained a long time ago in the UK, and yes, as junior students we were HCAs, but I learned so much from direct pt care - as previously mentioned by another poster (giving a bed bath is the best assessment ever).

Later, as senior students we learned all the other more advanced nursing duties.

As for going straight into management, I don't think that happens anywhere - UK or US. Especially in the current US climate where graduates are lucky to even find a job.

I guess the point of my post was not to criticize the UK's opinion of nurses (maybe in another post), but to gain insight into what students here in the US expect from their clinical experience, so that if this happens again, I know how to react!

Once again, thanks for all your replies. :redbeathe

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Funny, I was actually looking forward to doing some skills on my first day of clinical, which was last week. Yeah, poo smells like...poo. But I really want to use my skills and actually take care of real patients, instead of plastic dummies. Next week, I get that chance.

Poo can be important in many ways. Let the cast of Scrubs explain why:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think it varies-depends on the college attended-all are not created equally.

otessa

I agree as I have no problem in pitching in whenever I might be needed should the case arise (for the pt's sake). Yet, I have also seen many a nurse NOT jump in and actually say "get the CNA", (and the CNA was busy) when care was needed now. As you stated, all are not created equally.

We need to always remember, who we are and remember, if it's patient care and there is no one around to assist: think of it as: "what if this were your family member lying there and no one was attending to their needs??? I would like to hope most nurses would treat pt's like one of their own, thus, we would all "jump in".:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

In 30+ years, I have seen all the trends come and go - Team nursing, Functional nursing, all - RN staffing, you name it, I've either done it or know others who have done it. Although I can say that cleaning up the same incontinent patient for a 3rd or 4th time in a shift becomes tedious, it is doing that cleaning which will make you aware if the skin is starting to break down. Assuming that you didn't yet start using a barrier cream.....

And during the bathing - what can the pt reach on their own? Can they follow directions easily? Are they cooperative? Conversant?!!! Et Cetera!!

But let's look at another issue - for 30+ years I have been saying that if someone spends 30, 40, 60, 80 thousand bucks on a collegiate education, can you expect them to stay at a job working nights, weekends, holidays, rotating shifts? I wouldn't!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
Thank you for all your responses - very interesting. I work in the US. I posted because recently a student would not answer her pt.'s call light. She knew the pt. was on the BSC and the CNA was busy. When I pointed out that her pt. was calling, she said the CNA would answer. On the other hand, the student wasn't doing anything... having only a couple of pts.

She was just plain lazy, and not a nurse I would want to work with on a unit when I'm done with school.

Although I can say that cleaning up the same incontinent patient for a 3rd or 4th time in a shift becomes tedious, it is doing that cleaning which will make you aware if the skin is starting to break down. Assuming that you didn't yet start using a barrier cream.....

And during the bathing - what can the pt reach on their own? Can they follow directions easily? Are they cooperative? Conversant?!!! Et Cetera!!

I can completely agree with this. I don't think any of the students here are downplaying the value of ADLs in practicing assessment skills. I guess I can turn the question around a bit to make my point more clear: would you hire a new grad whose only hands-on experiences were ADLs?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
But let's look at another issue - for 30+ years I have been saying that if someone spends 30, 40, 60, 80 thousand bucks on a collegiate education, can you expect them to stay at a job working nights, weekends, holidays, rotating shifts? I wouldn't!!!

I'm not sure I understand the question. Personally, I'm not spending $45K and putting myself through anxiety hell for my education to NOT directly save a patient's life or help a mother bring her baby into this world or bring peace and comfort to someone who has chosen to die with dignity. To me, it's worth it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a student trying to get my BSN. Ive only had 2 semesters of clincials ths far and realized my first day that no matter what level of nursing you are (NA,LPN,RN, PT,RT) we are going to have to clean feces. I mean I WOULD NEVER EVER say to the patient "well im an RN and its not my responisbility to clean up the urine/feces you are laying in. Wait 20 minutes until I can get someone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
In 30+ years, I have seen all the trends come and go - Team nursing, Functional nursing, all - RN staffing, you name it, I've either done it or know others who have done it. Although I can say that cleaning up the same incontinent patient for a 3rd or 4th time in a shift becomes tedious, it is doing that cleaning which will make you aware if the skin is starting to break down. Assuming that you didn't yet start using a barrier cream.....

And during the bathing - what can the pt reach on their own? Can they follow directions easily? Are they cooperative? Conversant?!!! Et Cetera!!

But let's look at another issue - for 30+ years I have been saying that if someone spends 30, 40, 60, 80 thousand bucks on a collegiate education, can you expect them to stay at a job working nights, weekends, holidays, rotating shifts? I wouldn't!!!

Excellent point mammamerlee!!!! :lol2: Your point is very well taken!! It is so...true that while cleaning up your pt your also assess how he/she is doing from Rom to simple cognitive abilities. Just being able to reassure them or having a conversation is worth so much to your patient especially in the day where their stay in the hospital is for a very short time.

Good Job!! :yeah::yeah::yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am a student trying to get my BSN. Ive only had 2 semesters of clincials ths far and realized my first day that no matter what level of nursing you are (NA,LPN,RN, PT,RT) we are going to have to clean feces. I mean I WOULD NEVER EVER say to the patient "well im an RN and its not my responisbility to clean up the urine/feces you are laying in. Wait 20 minutes until I can get someone.

:) I'm glad you would never tell any patient to wait until you can get an LPN,NA etc to help her. If you are not busy as an RN (which will be nearly impossible) you will find the time to help your patients. Yes, since you are only just starting you WILL have to help a pt with body washes including accidents with feces/urine - it's called nursing. This is not what you will be doing for your entire shift, but there will be days that you wonder to yourself "Why did I get all this trainning". I promise you that there will be other days where you realize how blessed you are that you did make the right decision to be a nurse. You will take the good with the bad in this job and I'm sure everyone will agree with that. Be sure to hold to your convictions and treat your patients as you would want some other nurse treating your family member if in the same situation and you will do great. Compassion is number one for me when dealing with my patients. Always treat others as YOU would want to be treated. It works!!

Good luck to you as you will make a wonderful nurse!! :yeah::lol2::yeah::lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment