Is this normal?

Published

at the geriatric hospital where i did some volunteer work i noticed that the nurses use 1 pan of water to bathe 40 pts. some wards have 48.some nurses use two.i have never come across this before and was very grossed out by it.where i use to work each person was bathed with a separate pan of water.i discussed this with the nursing director and he told me he had been trying to get the nurses to stop this practice for a long time but to no avail.he also told me when i get registered i'll probably be doing the same thing.maybe.but i pray to god every night and ask him not to let me fall into that way of doing things.i understand it makes their work a lot easier but isn't this spreading bacteria and god knows what else?guess i have so much to learn.just wondering if any of you do this too and is it safe/healthy?

That is just pure disgusting...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

EWWWWWWW!!!!!:barf01:

This place needs to be reported to the BON and board of health. I feel sorry for the people in this place. You can report annomyusly (sp?) . I am sure this place would get checked out with what you are describing. I would especially report the abuse you saw and never volunteer there again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

WOW, That is one of the most disgusting things i have ever heard. You might as well throw everyone( all 48 pts) in a pool ,squirt soap in it, tell them to thrash around and that would be better off than what they get now!. Seriously needs to change!! Sorry you have come across this.:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

wow! that is really bad. i've been a nursing assistant for 5 years now and have seen some bad stuff, unfortunately, but never anything like that! i've seen much more good than bad and most aides and nurses working with the elderly have a heart ot do it, but it's sad when you see people treated so poorly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in acute care.

Even if I think it would get swept under the rug I would still report it to an outside force. No one deserves this treatment. Think of how you would feel if someone you cared about was living like this. Plese report it! If everyone who witnesses this just turns around and walks away, then how does the problem get fixed? I do not even want to think about what else is going on there. This is so sad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

Well, now we know... The Caribbean is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to get old there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

I'm just praying the OP meant "one wash basin, filled appropriately in between patients" even though that is not what is typed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all your replies.One of the male nurses told me where i could go to report this and i think i will do just that.To Indy no i don't mean one wash basin filled in between pts i mean one wash basin filled and the same water used to bathe all pts.Again thanks .

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

omg- gross! Defiantely report it! Would you want YOUR grandparent washed with water that has washed 40 other pts?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Medicine.

Lazy people + soupy water= :barf02:

Gross.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Cardiac Step-Down.
heard one nurse say "why should we have to bother with them if their family can't be?"

...i am totally speechless...

good for you to get out of there!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Where are you located? You need to call the health department or the police or someone. This is just mean to these old people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion