Do you use powder on your patients?

[mamaof3]

I am a first year nursing student. The other day one of our instructers informed us to never ever put powder on a patient. She said if they asked us to, we should inform them that we won't do it. Then let them know how bad it is for their skin. Today we had another instructor encourage us to use powder. She said it won't harm patients as long as their skin is dry and it works great to freshen them up. Do you use powder in your health care facility? Do you find it beneficial or harmful? Just looking for opinions from you more experienced nurses out there. Thanks

[sharann, BSN, RN]

I only use a light sprinkle on bedpans. Is there another alternative to keep their behinds from sticking(boy do they stick) to the plastic bedpans? I am open to suggestions.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Cornstarch. We use this on my stepgrandma's bedpan.

And we bought a (the Rubbermaid kind) salt and pepper set to put it in so it would sprinkle. One shaker went in the bedroom and one for the bathroom. And since the Rubbermaid plastic kind come with the snap on hole covers, it doesn't get moisture problems tat may cause it to clump up.