How to get stool smell off of your hands?

I just started working my first job as an LPN for a Home Health Agency. I have one client who I take care of in the mornings before I go to my full time office job. This client has paralysis and requires a bowel program each morning in which I have to stimulate the rectum manually, administer enemas and digitally remove stool.

I obviously have gloves on when doing this, and I've washed my hands a zillion times. I have also used 4 different types of hand sanitizer--so I KNOW my hands are clean. But my fingers STILL smell like stool! How do I get this off of my hands? I really don't think its in just lingering in my nose because my other hand does not smell like this and I can only smell it when I bring "the fingers" to my nose.

Any advice from seasoned nurses????

[emnicams]

Same thing happened to me after doing a disimpaction recently. I washed my hands twice and then scratched my nose... and got a whiff. Tried washing my hands a 3rd time, and the smell was still there. I ended up taking an Aseptiwipe and scrubbing my finger with it, and it did the trick. Then washing my hands AGAIN. (Yes, I know you aren't supposed to use those on skin, but I was desperate.)

Kind of disturbing that the odor went through the glove... yikes.

[bethin]

gentlegiver said:

ok, this is tried and true, I even use it on pt's after a BM. Shaving Cream, doesn't have to be scented, just wash hands with shaving cream first, rinse then use soap & water. Works every time!

Off topic but I also use shaving cream on patients who haven't bathed since the Millennium. Works great at cutting armpit odor.

[chef2rn]

Scrub up to your elbows! I've had it happen where I washed my hands 3 or four times, but could still smell it. Found a tiny smear on my forearm.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Try making a paste of baking soda and peroxide. I used that to get the skunk smell off of my dog. Or maybe rinse with a little bleach then wash hands with soap and water right away to remove bleach before it irritates your skin.

[egglady, LPN]

I would recommend not putting your fingers by your nose!!!! :)

[mondkmondk]

sirI said:

Minted toothpaste works every time. Wash first cold then hot and rub with toothpaste, rinse.

I have been told this and have done it...it does work well!

Blessings, Michelle

[leslie :-D]

egglady said:

I would recommend not putting your fingers by your nose!! ?

LOL

[Xbox Live Addict]

Peri said:

Really? Why?

(From the UK - sorry)

Not sure if it's a "dignity issue" (and if that were the case, I don't see why getting someone nice and clean from stool and urine would be a "dignity issue", quite the opposite) or a health issue, and I'm guessing this may be specific to the laws of my state (Oklahoma) rather than common across the US. But I do know, if administration caught a CNA doing peri-care with shaving cream, they'd get verbal correction. If a surveyor caught a CNA doing that, the facility would get written up, and then the facility would write the aide up for getting the facility in trouble with the State.

[queenjean]

Why would using two gloves affect the integrity of the gloves themselves?

I always double glove when cleaning up poo. First of all, it prevents the smell from getting on my hands. But mainly, if you are wiping and then get stool all over your glove, you have to stop what you are doing and change gloves unless you want to get stool on the clean linens and chux. So I double glove, remove the dirty gloves right after wiping, and protect my pt's clean linens.

As for shaving cream use in peri-care? Try this at home. Rub some shaving cream on your intimate folds and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. Still feeling the burn? I'll bet. THAT'S why you aren't supposed to use it. Unless it's thoroughly removed, it's an irritant. It's not healthy for fragile skin.

I have used shaving cream on my hands before, in trying to remove a smell.

[jeepgirl, LPN, NP]

I'm pretty sure it has to do with the friction and breakdown of the latex proteins.

[I love my cat!]

Just an idea:

Thick, cotton glove liners, then put on the barrier gloves. (latex, Nitrile, whatever you use).

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

queenjean said:

Why would using two gloves affect the integrity of the gloves themselves?

I always double glove when cleaning up poo. First of all, it prevents the smell from getting on my hands. But mainly, if you are wiping and then get stool all over your glove, you have to stop what you are doing and change gloves unless you want to get stool on the clean linens and chux. So I double glove, remove the dirty gloves right after wiping, and protect my pt's clean linens.

As for shaving cream use in peri-care? Try this at home. Rub some shaving cream on your intimate folds and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. Still feeling the burn? I'll bet. THAT'S why you aren't supposed to use it. Unless it's thoroughly removed, it's an irritant. It's not healthy for fragile skin.

I have used shaving cream on my hands before, in trying to remove a smell.

Maybe it depends on whether or not the shaving cream has menthol in it. For those who've used it on patients - do they say it burns?

And if a surveyor is around, just go in the john where you can't be seen and use it on yourself. They don't follow you into the toilet. do they?