Madame, your ignorance is astounding

[PeepnBiscuitsRN]

So as I was dozing in the rocking chair with my 13 month old who was lazily nursing/sleeping I recalled a conversation I had with a teacher at the school I was at for my Public Health Clinical back in early December. The school nurse wanted me to talk to her because I was still relatively fresh out of school and into the industry and already back to complete my BSN.

Well, this teacher was a lady who looked to be in her late 50's early 60's, and she wanted to know about her daughter in law who wanted to go back to school to be an RN. This daughter in law had a BS in something already, I think marketing or something like that. So she was asking me about what I did on a typical night, and what nursing school entailed. I was explaining that her DIL would be wise to start CNA training so she was ready after she completed the prereq's she would need. She wanted to know what good training to be a CNA would do. I explained that it's basic nursing skills- vitals, personal cares etc. The school nurse I was with piped up "you know...butt wiping". I laughed and said "yeah that's true, you do do some of that".

That's when I lost all respect for this teacher. She got this sour look on her face, and said "oh, but she won't have to do any of that will she? I mean that's what the aides are for, she's going to be more busy doing other things, right? She won't have to wipe people...the aides do that."

To which the school nurse and I looked at each other... school nurse smiled and said something to the effect of having to wipe more butts than she could count when she worked in ICU. I basically said "yea well, sometimes...especially at night the PCA is doing something else, like wrestling/hog tying a raving dementia patient who is trying to gouge another nurse's eye out." What I was really thinking is "gee, no way, we nurses don't sink to that level, just like you teachers don't sink to the level of teaching these kids to spell...they have auto-correct, to do that for them...right?"

OY! If DIL is anything like MIL and she decides to go to school, I'm keeping an eye on this forum for a post that might sound something like "so my mom in law told me i don't have 2 wipe butts when im a real nurse because the aides get to do that im doing importaint things lolz!!"

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I imagine, that to the person covered in poo, butt-wiping is pretty important. Might even be at the top of the list.

I say that there are FAR worse things than poop.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'd much rather change a poopy brief than deal with a threatening family member, condescending doctor, backstabbing coworker, or unrealistic manager.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

What about the satisfaction of getting someone all nice and freshened up, someone who can't help themselves?!

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

What about the satisfaction of getting someone all nice and freshened up, someone who can't help themselves?!

I love that, especially when you know its probably been awhile since the last good bath.

I simply try to imagine what it would be like to be helpless and sitting in urine and feces... Awful, and i am glad that me and my awesome CNAs can help them with it.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I know. It's immensely personally satisfying to leave my patient clean, dry, lotioned, and in clean clothes and sheets. *happy sigh*

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

And the whole room smells great after an honest-to-goodness bed bath!

We have bag baths, which are great for unstable patients and quickies, but nothing beats a basin of hot soapy water:w00t:

[Asands]

I got my BS in management in 2008 and im now in my 4th year of RN nursing school, doing the intern program. I can tell you people are pretty ignorant about what nurse do or they have a very low appreciation of the work nurses do. My family (except my mom, shes an RN) thought i would be doing work below my level, but i can tell you ive never had to use my brain and thinking abilities like i do in nursing. there are some days that i just WISH i only had to clean butts, instead of dealing with worried family members, unclear orders from doctors and sick patients. I think someones in for a reality check!

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

Cleaning butts is the least of my dislikes about nursing these days. Actually, it's not a dislike. It's more satisfying than dealing with paperwork and WAFWOT assignments. I feel better knowing my patients are clean.

Now I bet I'll get the code brown patients because I said this :)

[caregiver1977]

I love that, especially when you know its probably been awhile since the last good bath.

I simply try to imagine what it would be like to be helpless and sitting in urine and feces... Awful, and i am glad that me and my awesome CNAs can help them with it.

What's worse, if you can imagine, is that some healthcare workers make snarky comments to the embarrassed patient about the mess they are in. Yeah, that really helps the situation (NOT!).

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Well, the lady's a teacher and not a nurse herself, so butt wiping is probably a pretty horrifying thought to her. I wouldn't waste too much energy feeling annoyed or self-righteous about it. Perhaps the daughter-in-law knows what she's getting in to? Frankly, I'd be pretty horrified if people made assumptions about what I was like based on what my MIL is like. Yeesh.

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

Like I tell the LOLs who are embarrassed at having to be cleaned up..."If this is the worst thing I have to deal with, it's gonna be a fantastic night."

Now, the ETOHer who managed to somehow explode feces all over his room, bed, bathroom, nightstand, etc. while being belligerent and on the verge of combative...that's a whole other story.