Helping with "code brown" at university student health center

[JessicaJGurl]

I am a future pediatric nurse and have been volunteering at the hospital in the PICU, and I was recently assigned to work in the Student health center at my school. Just recently, a close classmate of mine had come in suffering from a horrible case of gastroenteritis. I didn't realize who it was until I walked into the room and noticed that he had soiled his pants while waiting in the exam room....he was embarassed beyond measure. To be honest, I have never performed a patient clean up much, especially never on a fellow college classmate. I was required to clean him up, but I had a hard first time in helping him clean up such a big mess. I was told that these rarely happen in a student health facility, but it does happen. How can I efficiently get them cleaned up efficiently and help them cope with embarassment?

I know its wierd...but as I have said before...I honestly have not dealt with toileting accidents in adults.

[mcknis]

Well it can be an embarassment for both patient and caregiver when you know the other person. The best thing you can do is just do your best and act as maturely as you can. Don't discuss the incident outside of that environment and if the other person does talk about it, just let them tell about it. Young butts or old butts, everyone has one and they all have to be cleaned. Not really any easy way to do it, but it just has to be done. Good luck and hopefully it doesn't happen again there at your facility, but when it does you'll be ready.