Did the title catch your attention? Good, I was hoping it would.
I've seen people talk about this attitude on allnurses quite a bit, and I find the reactions fascinating. I'm amazed at the passion, care and professionalism of the nurses on this board and really about every nurse I've ever met.
BUT, everyone-from the most seasoned nurse to the student- knows that nursing is changing and will probably continue to change dramatically over the years to come. There are CNAs and MAs who seem to have an increasing role in the healthcare system and nurses themselves have more responsibility (all the charting etc.) and demanding jobs as new diseases, new medicines and standards of care make their way into our lives.
My question is, do you think their should be a change in what nurses do? Will there come a time when basic hygiene and certain other tasks often done by nurses in the past will be the responsibility of CNAs and others in similar roles? Would this be a good thing for nurses? Is there really anything wrong with nurses who feel that four years of education + all of their other demands and responsibilities should mean that they shouldn't have to do these tasks?
Did the title catch your attention? Good, I was hoping it would.
I've seen people talk about this attitude on allnurses quite a bit, and I find the reactions fascinating. I'm amazed at the passion, care and professionalism of the nurses on this board and really about every nurse I've ever met.
BUT, everyone-from the most seasoned nurse to the student- knows that nursing is changing and will probably continue to change dramatically over the years to come. There are CNAs and MAs who seem to have an increasing role in the healthcare system and nurses themselves have more responsibility (all the charting etc.) and demanding jobs as new diseases, new medicines and standards of care make their way into our lives.
My question is, do you think their should be a change in what nurses do? Will there come a time when basic hygiene and certain other tasks often done by nurses in the past will be the responsibility of CNAs and others in similar roles? Would this be a good thing for nurses? Is there really anything wrong with nurses who feel that four years of education + all of their other demands and responsibilities should mean that they shouldn't have to do these tasks?
Personally, I did get all this education to wipe butts. In fact I rather enjoy it. While I'm wiping a butt, I get the opportunity to do a skin assessment, to obtain a health history, to critically think "why is this poop green..." and how that green poop may be related to current health problems, to be an advocate, to assess their mobility and strength and to start thinking about what type of home care they may need when they go home and try to wipe their own butts, or their kids may have to wipe their butts and then I get an opportunity to do teaching.
Yup, butt wiping is pretty much the reason I got into nursing and what keeps me in nursing. God bless my patients and their profound strength and courage. Hope I have a kind soul to wipe my butt someday when I'm frail and vulnerable.
But no more invasive than a foley, which we do all the time. The one fecal catheter tube I saw did work like a foley, but it was made of a very soft, flexible plastic. The material was much softer (for lack of better term) than a foley. It almost felt like fabric. When I saw a demonstration insertion, the patient didn't wince like what you see with foley insertions. The patient seemed to be quite comfortable. It's got to be better than having a red, sore behind from skin breakdown and constant cleanups.
No matter how many cleanups you do, the patient is going to be sitting in fecal matter at least some of the time unless you have someone who can stand there all day long doing cleanups which, of course, is impossible. This has got to better all the way around, especially for non-stop diarrhea.
:typing
I actually learned a little more about these, last night. Apparently, they can lead to problems if left in too long. (Seems pretty much true of any invasive device, for that matter.) I guess they have to be removed to allow formed stools to pass. So, like everything else in nursing, good judgement is necessary to get the desired result. I agree that devices like these have their place, and it doesn't have a thing to do with laziness or lack of care.
veronica butterfly, ADN, RN
120 Posts
Personally, I did get all this education to wipe butts. In fact I rather enjoy it. While I'm wiping a butt, I get the opportunity to do a skin assessment, to obtain a health history, to critically think "why is this poop green..." and how that green poop may be related to current health problems, to be an advocate, to assess their mobility and strength and to start thinking about what type of home care they may need when they go home and try to wipe their own butts, or their kids may have to wipe their butts and then I get an opportunity to do teaching.
Yup, butt wiping is pretty much the reason I got into nursing and what keeps me in nursing. God bless my patients and their profound strength and courage. Hope I have a kind soul to wipe my butt someday when I'm frail and vulnerable.