How often do RNs clean up poop? (thinking about majoring in nursing)

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I am thinking about majoring in nursing, and I was wondering how often RNs clean poop, vomit, etc. I could handle cleaning up stuff like that every once in a while, but I can't imagine cleaning people's poop for the rest of my working life.. >_

I remember one of my friends who had a mother working as a nurse said all she did was clean poop everyday :(

Please respond quickly, thanks!

Specializes in Operating Room.
Weekly? Really?? I worked in OR for 2+ years and NEVER saw poop.
Yep, sometimes more than weekly. I've had weeks where it was practically DAILY, LOL!

Maybe I'm just a poop magnet. :DBut think of it, most of the patients are elderly, the vast majority of our pts are done under general anesthesia. And how did you manage to never see poop after 2 and a half years?? I guess it could be possible, if you worked in a surgicenter, or did lots of eyes, ent, plastics.

I come from a background where I did lots of general surgery, so even if there was no Code Brown, you may have had a poop sighting while scrubbed in a bowel case(some bowel preps work better than others). One time, we had to wait to start a case because the pt started pooping massive amounts right before an appendectomy. I've had 2 spine patients just in the last few weeks have bowel movements while under anesthesia.

I doubt there is any hospital specialty that is 100% poop free.:p

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Honestly I would say it all depends on what area you want to get into. Personally I want to be a CRNA someday and was told one time when shadowing that one perk of the job is not having to care for the area below the waistline (of course that's not the reason why I'm getting into it though) but i know from my summer internship i'll have to deal w/ a ton of poo in my ICU experience. It's not as bad as you think and there's a lot you can learn from the color, consistency, smell (I swear once you've smelled C-Diff once you'll never forget it! Can I get an Amen?! :)

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How often?

Less often than CNAs, but more often than CNAs think we do.:wink2:

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Specializes in ICU.

I work in ICU, staff is RN only, no HCAs (CNA) so if there is poop we clean it.

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Honestly I would say it all depends on what area you want to get into. Personally I want to be a CRNA someday and was told one time when shadowing that one perk of the job is not having to care for the area below the waistline (of course that's not the reason why I'm getting into it though) but i know from my summer internship i'll have to deal w/ a ton of poo in my ICU experience. It's not as bad as you think and there's a lot you can learn from the color, consistency, smell (I swear once you've smelled C-Diff once you'll never forget it! Can I get an Amen?! :)

A-a-men, A-aa-men, A-A-men, Amen, Amen :nuke:

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Specializes in pediatric critical care.
i am thinking about majoring in nursing, and i was wondering how often rns clean poop, vomit, etc. i could handle cleaning up stuff like that every once in a while, but i can't imagine cleaning people's poop for the rest of my working life.. >_

i remember one of my friends who had a mother working as a nurse said all she did was clean poop everyday :(

please respond quickly, thanks!

i think that the amount of poo you have to clean also depends on your nursing specialty. you're not going to see as much need for bed and diaper changes in a doctor's office or clinic as you will in a nursing home, for example. also, a facility with nursing assistants will have them doing most of the bed changing and toileting, not that you shouldn't help them if you can. the children's hospital i work in does not employ nursing assistants, i work in the picu, so we change beds/diapers of all sizes. the nicu might be a good place for someone who wants to avoid big messes. hope that helps!

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I'm a student and a bit apprehensive about these things too - only because I have a weak stomach and I desperately want to be able to overcome that. I'm going to try to look at patients like I would a child or loved one of my own because those are not the things that matter the most when you take care of your family, the one thing on your mind is helping them to feel better and comfortable. I think it would be awful to walk around all day praying that you don't come across anything like that...I think delving right into it and getting used to it instead of trying to avoid it will help much more in the long run.

I am passionate enough about the other reasons for becoming a nurse that I am determined not to let this scare me away. I think if it's something you really want to do, you too will be able to overcome your weak areas.

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You don't have to see it after you get your license. Simply look for jobs that don't involve bedside care. You will probably have to see it in school clinicals though so if it bothers you but you want your nursing license then you will have to put yourself in the mindset that you can handle it and maintain professional demeanor if you want to get through school. This is fair enough - most people going into specialized fields have to do things in school that they don't want to do so they can graduate and move on to whatever it is they want to do.

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Yep, sometimes more than weekly. I've had weeks where it was practically DAILY, LOL!

Maybe I'm just a poop magnet. :DBut think of it, most of the patients are elderly, the vast majority of our pts are done under general anesthesia. And how did you manage to never see poop after 2 and a half years?? I guess it could be possible, if you worked in a surgicenter, or did lots of eyes, ent, plastics.

I come from a background where I did lots of general surgery, so even if there was no Code Brown, you may have had a poop sighting while scrubbed in a bowel case(some bowel preps work better than others). One time, we had to wait to start a case because the pt started pooping massive amounts right before an appendectomy. I've had 2 spine patients just in the last few weeks have bowel movements while under anesthesia.

I doubt there is any hospital specialty that is 100% poop free.:p

My specialty was hearts (probably 8 cases out of 10), but I also did a lot of plastics, some GYN and way more ortho than I would have liked. No poop sightings LOL!

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, corrections, +.

Umm... yea Amen to C-diff.

I work corrections now so I never see poo.

That being said there are a lot of things worse then poo for me.

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op, you would be amazed at the capacity of the human spirit.

we can conquer any fear, when filled with compassion and purpose.

leslie

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Specializes in Hospice.
op, you would be amazed at the capacity of the human spirit.

we can conquer any fear, when filled with compassion and purpose.

leslie

What leslie said.

Besides, I'd rather deal with poop than with the bowel obstruction that will happen if I don't see one!

Believe it or not, there are times when I'm just thrilled to see that little - or not so little - mound in the bed!!!

Think of it this way ... if you can care for an infant, you can care for an adult doing the same things.

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