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

[gwchem]

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!

[Atheos]

Those are called CRAPPY nurses. No pun intended.

They are in EVERY state.

[leslie :-D]

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.

i think when you get a whole bunch of responses proudly stating that we willingly clean up poop, then those who don't, aren't going to chime in with their .02.

i mean, of course there are many who do not believe it's a part of their job.

but those of us who do, are vigilantly aware of why it's critical to address the entire pt, and not just their medical needs.

i think, our perspectives on what a nurse is, comes into how we treat our pts.

i happen to think that the bottom line is, if they're my patient, i am responsible for their care, regardless of who is delegated what.

and, it makes for a very therapeutic relationship, doing intimate tasks such as this.

win-win.

leslie