Is there ANY department in nursing that I can avoid cleaning up poo?
What Members Are Saying (AI-Generated Summary)
Members are discussing the challenges and realities of cleaning up feces in healthcare settings, particularly in relation to different nursing roles. Some members express apprehension about this aspect of the job, while others share their experiences and offer advice to those new to the field. The discussion also touches on generational attitudes towards cleaning tasks and personal choices.
Sorry for the awkwardness but I looked through previous threads and read the stories and I think I would just lose it if I walked into a bathroom where the walls were covered with diarrhea and I had to clean it all up
My mom tries to tell me not to worry and "just get the LVN/CNA to clean it up" but for some reason I don't think that it works out that easily...
Is there any department in hospitals that wouldnt have to deal with this type of situation? psychiatric ward perhaps? working a job outside a hospital?
Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated :plsebeg:
I had to a pt the other day with MS that uses a slider board to transfer to the bed. he was going from the commode(an unsuccessful BM attempt) to the bed and he had his pants down. As he pushed get across the slider board to get to the bed he started going all over the floor, chair, board and bed. The poor man was so embarrassed. We had to assure him it was part of the job and at least he had his bowels move.We did finally get a chuckle out of him at that.
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
I just wanted to tell the OP that I too worried I wouldn't be able to handle the poo and all the other icky stuff that comes with nursing. But once I started my CNA class, (a requirement for my nursing program) it didn't bother me. The more important it became to get these pre-reqs out of the way the less it seemed to bother me. My CNA teacher was very kind and and I had some good role models to follow and some bad ones that I didn't want to follow. CNA class turned out to be fun. We all wanted to be nurses. Only 2 of us made it into the nursing program but each student strove to give their patients the very best care. :)
Really, once you get started it won't bother you so much.
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
What about postpartum patients? Does anyone know?
I had 3 c-sections and I didn't have any poo issues... I'm guessing most of the moms have that under control?
We give alot of methergine and hemobate following sections to decrease bleeding risks, which in a good majority of people leads to diarrhea the next day! And people do poo during these when there has to be some manual manipulation to get the baby out. it is usually cleaned up very descretely when we transfer from OR table to stretcher. As for lady partsl deliverys they is a lovely cocktail to clean up after those, which alot of times includes poop!!:chuckle
Sorry for the awkwardness but I looked through previous threads and read the stories and I think I would just lose it if I walked into a bathroom where the walls were covered with diarrhea and I had to clean it all up
My mom tries to tell me not to worry and "just get the LVN/CNA to clean it up" but for some reason I dont think that it works out that easily...
Is there any department in hospitals that wouldnt have to deal with this type of situation? psychiatric ward perhaps? working a job outside a hospital?
Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated :plsebeg:
I haven't read the rest of this thread yet and am responding solely to your OP. Forgive me in advance for being very direct....
Why do you want to be a nurse?
It is a serious question and I am asking it with no intention to show disrespect to you.
I really don't think there is any area of nursing in which to avoid poo. If you really want to avoid poo, stay away from psych because some of those patients like to finger paint with it.
With all due respect, you should show this post (as well as the others with this view) to your mom. I'm almost certain she didn't know what the consequences of taking her advice would be for you. Believe us who have been there, the nurse who refuses to help her CNAs won't have an easy time of it. She might even lose her job. You get more cooperation from the CNAs when you show that you are willing to help. :wink2:
Perhaps her mother will feel differently if she is ever hospitalized and unable to control her "poo" and is unfortunate enough to have a nurse who delegates cleaning up chores to CNAs stretched very thin between 20 or 30 or so patients at a time.
Specializes in primary care, holistic health, integrated medicine.
Sorry for the awkwardness but I looked through previous threads and read the stories and I think I would just lose it if I walked into a bathroom where the walls were covered with diarrhea and I had to clean it all up
My mom tries to tell me not to worry and "just get the LVN/CNA to clean it up" but for some reason I dont think that it works out that easily...
Is there any department in hospitals that wouldnt have to deal with this type of situation? psychiatric ward perhaps? working a job outside a hospital?
Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated :plsebeg:
Honestly, and I am sure there are others thinking this, but for some reason NOT saying it, but I think you should do yourself, other nurses, including those "lowly" CNAs a favor - and PLEASE don't go into nursing. Maybe you could become a beautician or something, or a fasion designer. You are definetely NOT a future nurse. BTW - I used to work in an outpatient clinic, and a woman came in who was throwing up feces. She needed compassion, not your "ewwww, poo!" attitude.
Specializes in med-surg, post-partum, ER, psychiatric.
Absolutely not..........that is a part of nursing. Please do not ask your CNA/LVN/LPN to do it...............unless you are so busy and they are not...........it's everybody's responsibility to include RN's..................Never ask somebody to do something that you are not willing to do yourself...........it will create for some resentment...................seriously............. Believe you me, you are going to more than enough share of "poo" in psychiatric facilities...........probably even moreso than any place else (minus LTC/SNF facilities, et al).....I am a psychiatric nurse.................man o man..................to the point it gets thrown at you..................I am also a medic.....................I had to learn and adapt to getting used to "Poo"............we all have our weaknesses and things that are going to make us sick or queasy when we deal with it.........that is OK and normal...............sometimes, you may find that you won't be bothered by it at all..................when you are so busy doing your tasking..........then there are other times you will puke up your guts.........over the same thing..................it's OK (just don't do it in front of the patient though..............:-) ).................
Something I have learned as a medic.............and encounter GI bleeds..........and all sorts of horrible body smells.......teeth breathing..........breath through your mouth with teeth clenched.....it's amazing how it works.......also, I would carry a small tin of Vick's vapor rub and put it under my nose....................that, too, royally helps out..........
As a medical profession, you are going to encounter all sorts of very disgusting things in caring for your patients.........and "poo" is going to be the minimal, believe it or not..................
Best of luck to you...................I hope this wee bit of info will help you (especially some of the tricks of the trade..........hopefully some others will have some tricks of their own to share with you as well......................
What a horrible question to ask before becoming a nurse! It's not just the CNA job. Don't become a nurse then. You want a job of convenience. It's people like you that makes me ****** off!
Well, I have to say that I got transferred to the colorectal unit one night and was quite fearful of what I may be dealing with. The nurses there gave me a whole new perspective as they feel that as long as their pt's are using colostomy bags, they aren't cleaning butts. They said they couldn't handle cleaning poo in beds. Of course, you do have the bags popping off on occasion and the gas seems to be far worse. That's all I can think of.
loriangel14, RN
6,933 Posts
I had to a pt the other day with MS that uses a slider board to transfer to the bed. he was going from the commode(an unsuccessful BM attempt) to the bed and he had his pants down. As he pushed get across the slider board to get to the bed he started going all over the floor, chair, board and bed. The poor man was so embarrassed. We had to assure him it was part of the job and at least he had his bowels move.We did finally get a chuckle out of him at that.