Nurses and incontinence

[marielina85]

Ive been hearing a lot of stories about nurses becoming incontinent at a young age due to holding it in for so long. Is this true???I know sometimes go for hrs not going because im busy and forget to go.

[nursel56]

That's crazy!

As long as my patients are not in cardiac arrest, I'm using the restroom if I have to go. Anything else can wait the few minutes it takes. I am human like everyone else and I have basic needs. To allow to be treated that way is nuts!

Pee when you have to pee. PLEASE. I gave myself a bladder infection a while back by holding it in all the time. Taught myself a damn good lesson in the process because they are so uncomfortable. The world won't end because you have to pee. I will NEVER do that to myself again.

i'm with medic2rn, unless you are doing cpr...go take care of business. that's just nuts!!

As above. I'll never forget a comical "portrait of an ICU Nurse" tacked onto a bulletin board when I was a student. What I clearly remember, her bladder portrayed as a big tank of some sort (she may have had rollerskates for feet but I'm not sure:)) and it struck me as a bit odd that the poor thing couldn't take two minutes to relieve herself- and wondering what kind of holy hel l nursing must be if it is so insanely busy on a regular basis it ruled out so basic a health requirement.

But, truthfully, I did not see younger nurses becoming incontinent en masse. The legend has enough truth to make it seem plausible, though.

The way I really feel about it- insisting on nutrition, hydration and elimination is a psychological plus for me. Because even if the whole day has been in the crapper- I feel that is just a piece of me you all are not getting!!. Even if it's a granola bar and water. The only thing to do is be proactive, because it's actually easier to stay in the fray than it is to stop and take a brief time-out.