Why is it called a HAT?

[pebbles]

This is a very silly question, I know - but it is burning in my mind. :)

That little plastic pot that we put in the toilet to measure urine is called a hat - does anybody know why?

[Sleepyeyes]

Originally posted by OBNURSEHEATHER

:chuckle :rotfl: Really? They call it the "head?"

Heather

Oh yeah, Heather--- it's the "head" if you're on a boat, too!

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

I used to decorate my patients "hats" for them so when they had a roomate they could identify theirs. I'd get out the markers and write their name and draw flowers and stars and such. Usually got a laugh. You could have worn it if you wanted!

[stressedlpn]

I always thought that it should be refered to as a popcorn bowl.

[Ted]

A few years back, I used to work on an oncology/BMT floor. The BMT patients would, of course, have strict I & O's for a month. Day in and day out for about a month they'd do their little thing (#1 or #2) in their little hat(s).

Well, about a couple of days prior to being discharged, the order would be written to d/c the I & O. We'd have a little party for the occasion! :) Here's what we used to do:

1) First off, we'd throw away those yecky old hats with great fan-fare!

2) Teach the patient how to "go" into the toilet and flush the toilet. . . . and warn them that it's o.k. to see things "go down the hole". . .

3) wear those "hats" (new and clean, of course) as part of the "d/c the I&O" celebration!

It was usually an important step for the patient to know that just in a few days, they'd be going home. And our little "d/c celebration" usually brightened their day!

Cheers! :)

Ted

[eltrip]

The "hats" always reminded me of the "Flying Nun"

Happy Monday, ya'll!

Joy

[MQ Edna]

Actually, we always called them "nun's caps" because they did resemble the little nun's habit surrounding the little nun's head. When I changed facilities and first asked for someone to fetch me a "nun's cap", they looked at me like my brains were falling out (not an uncommon occurrence...):)

[Furball]

sorry...messed this post up

[Momma_Penguin]

We call em nun's caps also!! :chuckle And every now and then I will wear one ( clean off course) just for fun.... :roll hey at 4 am lots of things are funny!!! Laura LPN

[cbs3143]

A little "off topic" history lesson. The term "head" refers to the toilet facilities on any ship. It is also utilized by the US Navy and Marine Corps to refer to a toilet facility on land or sea. No one in the Navy or Marine Corps calls it a bathroom or toilet, always "the head". They also refer to the floor as the deck and a wall as a bulkhead, and a door as a hatch whether on a ship or in a building on land.

The term "head" originates from the practice of going to the bow or "head" of the ship to relieve oneself. I would imagine that if they timed the waves right they even got a wash at the same time. Maybe it had something to do with the wind pushing from the back of the boat. Never spit, pee, or perform other bodily functions into the wind.

Maybe that's why I joined the Army. We had to say "latrine" instead of "head", but at least floors were floors, walls were walls, and doors were doors :)

Chuck

[discarded APN]

The diploma program that I went to back in the early 1980s was the last school in our state to require the women students to wear nursing caps. We, of course, didn't think it was fair for the 3 men in the class to be left out when we were "capped" so we had a special ceremony for them and they were "capped" with the I & O hats. Funny thing was, they really didn't look that much different than our official school caps.

[lyndalous]

You should see the look of my patient's faces when I say, "I will be right back... I am going to get you a hat..."

Hahahah they give me the strangest looks!!!!

Lynda

[Cindy_A]

Ted,

What is BMT? Sounds like you all had a lot of fun!!!