I GOTTA KNOW!!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Has anybody else heard about the "nationwide urinal shortage" (the type used in hospitals)? This was announced at work, we are to make sure that urinals are appropriate for patients.

We should also consider using a basin or emesis bag as alternatives, if urinals are not available.

So, I did a web search...no results. Checked with the FDA...nada. Looked at specific manufacturers, not a word.

So what do YOU know?

I think management just doesn't want us wasting product making Xmas urinal wreaths.

If you have any info, I am dying to hear it.

Thanks and Seasons Greetings

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I think someone is pulling your leg! Lol

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Specializes in retired LTC.
I think someone is pulling your leg! Lol

I was thinking the same thing.

A new urban myth!

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Yup, it is real.

It is caused by current shortage of manufacturing materials due to simultaneous temporary closure of several large raw plastics manufacturing plants (which have to be refurbished, some as planned and some due to new EPA regulations re. air pollution), plus ongoing Dow Chem/DuPont battle royal, plus recent increase of consumption due to manufacturers/consumers demand. Things like these happen pretty much all the time - when you see price of plastic bags going up 10 cents, it is probably because of one such shortage. Due to redundancy of manufacturing process, it can last for between 3 to 6 months.

Shortages of certain food-grade plastics are expected in the very near future, so be prepared for bringing your own cutlery instead of stealing plastic spoons and forks from nutrition room, and saving used containers and bags, because of their prices will probably go up a little bit.

Anyway, the tree made out of urinals looks entirely disgusting for me

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Shortages of certain food-grade plastics are expected in the very near future, so be prepared for bringing your own cutlery instead of stealing plastic spoons and forks from nutrition room, and saving used containers and bags, because of their prices will probably go up a little bit.
As an aside, I visit the casual fast food joint Chipotle frequently. About two months ago I noticed the Chipotle locations in the city where I live stopped offering plastic spoons to customers, only forks. Eating beans, rice and salsa with a fork is hard.

Anyhow, this might or might not be related to the anticipated shortage in plastic cutlery? Who knows...

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
I think someone is pulling your leg! Lol

No, we have had issues with getting urinals in. We have had to resort to using the graduated thingies (can't remember the name of them) for men who are able to stand without difficulty. We went a couple of weeks without urinals. It's not a myth. Have had no explanation as to why though.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.

Okay, let me see if I can word this right and not curse. I remember an old saying growing up that someone was "so poor they didn't have a pot to pi*s in." Never thought it would truly happen tho. ;)

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Well, are bedpans next?

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My manager specifically mentioned the urinal shortage in the weekly State of the Unit email. I think the problem is real. Now we have had random shortages of lasix, dilaudid and other drugs over the years, but this is a first encountering patient equipment.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.
Well, are bedpans next?

No idea. Depends on what they are made from, but accounting for the fact that they will be used as urinals from now on in some places, then it wouldn't be a big surprise.

In 2003, when we were about finally leaving NICU and go home, the grapewine news was incoming shortage of filler for some diapers brands, including the one my baby was in all along. Johnson&Johnson was going to switch to "alternate" filler, and I was crazy apprehensive about pretty much everything. So I duly panicked and bought like three-months supply of tiny-preemie stuff in one Walmart. Pretty much cleared the shelf, but then 1) try to fly across the country with a baby, transport crib, oxygen, monitors, pump, etc. and THAT many diapers... we had to call TSA for a special permission to do that, and 2) I had no idea how quickly a preemie can grow. Ended up donating some of them to friends :yes:

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

A urinal wreath!?

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Specializes in ICU, trauma.

yes!! Someone told me that the manufacturers lost the initial mold that they duplicate.

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