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!

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.

hahahahahaha...great (hospice) nurses think alike, heron.:redbeathe

you wouldn't believe how many of my colleagues think i'm nuts when i make a 'stink' about adding senna to a somewhat complicated pharm regimen.

you would think that md's would KNOW the tragic results of not prescribing lax/stims w/opioids, anticholinergics, anesthetics.

and still, pts are lucky to get their colace bid.

gawd, it burns me because we see the obstipation and obstxn that ensues.

my finger and my bm (big mouth) are my 2 strongest allies.:chuckle

leslie

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Specializes in Hospice.

Ahh, yes ... mag citrate or lactulose in one end, milk and molasses or triple H enemas in the other ... all the while trying to deal with the abdominal pain and nausea. Feh!

Yep ... there's much worse things than poop.

Meanwhile, I think the OP's anxiety re this is pretty normal for someone never exposed to physical pt care.

Most normal people only ever deal with their own bodily excretions, unless they have kids. We are socialized to avoid such things and keep them very private.

But I think, for most of us, it just takes a few direct experiences to get over the major part of the yuckies.

If you are in a position to take a job as a tech, maybe it would be a way to find out if you can get used to these things or if it's going to be a major barrier for you.

Meanwhile, you'd be surprised at how topsy-turvey our responses can get, compared to real people. In nursing school, we used to have our own table in the cafeteria because no-one could stand to listen to our conversation while they were trying to eat!

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

Depends on where you work and what you do..... You Can surly expect to do it during clinicals!!!!

I am A Charge RN for a LTC. I help and do what ever I have to... During the Last Blizzard, I started the shift just doing my RN duties, due to bad wether I did Med cart for the PM shift, (Slept 6 hour at the facility)

next morning I helped out in the kitchen due to being short staffed. after 10AM I worked as charge again. Call in in NOC shft I worked as a NAR on the Alzheimer unit....(3 20 hr days) But you Know what my staff loves me and when i call them in to help fill a shift I rarley get a no. they know that i never ask them to do anything I wouldn't do myself.

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Yep ... there's much worse things than poop.

Meanwhile, I think the OP's anxiety re this is pretty normal for someone never exposed to physical pt care.

Most normal people only ever deal with their own bodily excretions, unless they have kids. We are socialized to avoid such things and keep them very private.

But I think, for most of us, it just takes a few direct experiences to get over the major part of the yuckies.

absolutely, the op's anxieties are quite normal.

i'm just saying, that when one knows the implications of not anticipating or intervening, only the pt suffers...

be it physically, mentally, psychologically.

so yeah, it does make me a bit nervous with those nurses who claim, "it's not my job".

damn it, it is your job.

to ensure you address not only your pts medical needs, but the whole person.

and a person's dignity is just as much a priority, as is their medical needs.:twocents:

(did i answer your question, op?:p)

leslie

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I work in a medical icu as a rn

The only answer I can tell you is when everytime my patient has a bowel movement.. No one works alone though when we turn to clean our patients, I do more of my fair share because I am a man. I think several times that the patient families thought I was an orderly or CNA because she asked me how I liked working with nurses.

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Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.

Not only do my co-workers and I clean up poop almost daily on our med-surg floor, we discuss the more memorable Code Browns while we're eating. :D

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I am 'justavolunteer' on a pt unit. I have helped to turn patients so an RN or CNA could clean them. If I can get that close to the situation as a volunteer, any would-be RN had better be prepared for cleaning patients. (I am very appreciative that there are people who will take care of the sick & bed-ridden.)

One possibility is to volunteer on a pt unit. You can't do direct pt. care, but you at least can see what goes on in a hospital.

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absolutely, the op's anxieties are quite normal.

i'm just saying, that when one knows the implications of not anticipating or intervening, only the pt suffers...

be it physically, mentally, psychologically.

so yeah, it does make me a bit nervous with those nurses who claim, "it's not my job".

damn it, it is your job.

to ensure you address not only your pts medical needs, but the whole person.

and a person's dignity is just as much a priority, as is their medical needs.:twocents:

(did i answer your question, op?:p)

leslie

Yeah, thanks for the insight. I'm surprised (and glad) at how so much people replied to my post, I though you guys would be annoyed at another "pooping" thread :o

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Yeah, thanks for the insight. I'm surprised (and glad) at how so much people replied to my post, I though you guys would be annoyed at another "pooping" thread :o

actually, i was being somewhat facetious when i asked you if i had answered your question...

i was 'off' on another one of my tangents.

ultimately, when you are a nurse, your conscience and judgment will guide you accordingly.

leslie

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
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!

PRN- (means whenever necessary).

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Nursing Staff and Poop have a special relationship. :D

Better get used to that idea. Some days you might spend more time with poop than your loved one. ;)

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Where do you all live? I swear in my state and the places I worked RNs/LPNs did not clean up poop at all, that was the job of a CNA/PCA. Many RNs have openly expressed that they "did not go to school to wipe a**". They are not required to do that part of the job, and just about all of them don't from my experience. When I come on allnurses, I hear all the RNs/LPNs say that they do this often or reguarly and I just don't see that happening in the real world.

Once I worked in a LTC facility, and I called a nurse because I saw blood in a patients brief, while they were checking the patient they told me to take care of another resident. When I came back, the brief was ripped on the floor and they did not even bother throw it away nor to put another brief on the patient. I couldn't believe it.

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