Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
So what do you use now?
We sanitise plastic bedpans and bowls. Still have some metal ones lying around only used when sanitisers aren't working and dirty ones pile up.
Disposable bedpans for the most part.
That sounds like a dream…
Plastic bedpans and basins are reusable but "single patient only" -- they get tossed (or sent home) when the patient discharges, never used for a different patient.
When I was in clinicals during nursing school, I was told that the plastic ones can't be adequately sterilized -- micro scratches in the surface of the plastic can harbor bacteria that sanitizing solution may not reach.
Plus, the cost for a simple plastic molded item that is purchased in bulk is probably cheaper than the cost in manpower (collecting / cleaning / redistributing), cleaning solutions, and machinery necessary to wash/reuse the item.
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
Plus, the cost for a simple plastic molded item that is purchased in bulk is probably cheaper than the cost in manpower (collecting / cleaning / redistributing), cleaning solutions, and machinery necessary to wash/reuse the item.
Just did a quick search -- even NOT purchasing in bulk, they can be obtained for less than $1.00 each. Definitely not cost-effective to wash and reuse them!
​Porcelain denture cups which had to be autoclaved.
Plasticized stool specimen containers that had to be hand carried to the lab. (As an aside, a co-worker and I both had to obtain specs from our respective assigned patients. She shook hers and it sounded like marbles. Mine was making a squishy sound. Ugh)
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Having to adjust IV flow rates using a roller clamp & your watch.
When I was in nursing school 12-13 years ago, we were taught how to do that, even though everyone was using electronic pumps. I wonder if that skill is still being taught in nursing school now?
When I was in nursing school 12-13 years ago, we were taught how to do that, even though everyone was using electronic pumps. I wonder if that skill is still being taught in nursing school now?
Yeah taught here and reference cards on IDs have conversion drop rate to mls.
I thought pumps aren't used in some areas and nurses need to know drop rates?
Plastic bedpans and basins are reusable but "single patient only" -- they get tossed (or sent home) when the patient discharges, never used for a different patient.
When I was in clinicals during nursing school, I was told that the plastic ones can't be adequately sterilized -- micro scratches in the surface of the plastic can harbor bacteria that sanitizing solution may not reach.
Plus, the cost for a simple plastic molded item that is purchased in bulk is probably cheaper than the cost in manpower (collecting / cleaning / redistributing), cleaning solutions, and machinery necessary to wash/reuse the item.
Mmm not here… We have a limited stock of them, use and then put into a steriliser in cleaning room. After they go back to stock shelf. Used many-many times and don't remember getting any new stock this year at least. Makes sense about scratches, bottles are quite stained as well - gross.
When I worked agency in rehab hospital they had disposable stuff. Never got to use them though, pts were able to use actual toilets there.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I have not been a nurse long enough to have encountered this as an RN, but I remember, when I was a child, having all our charts stuck on the end of our beds. (no HIPAA then)
I remember nurses being something like "gods". If a nurse wagged her finger and told me to be "good and quiet", I was scared enough never to question her. Must have been all that white from head to toe. They were authorities. Anyhow, this, again, is a memory from my childhood hospitalization.
Open children's wards where there were no less than 20 cribs/beds in the room (again childhood memory).
IV's and venipunture started without gloves on (some of the old school nurses I learned from tore a hole where the index finger would go, to feel the vein)
Patients in the hospital for weeks for, say, open heart; now they are out in like 3 or 4 days!
Practically every kid who had more than a few sore throats, getting tonsillectomies. Just about every kid I knew had theirs out. Nowadays, they recognize their role in the immune system and are more reluctant to remove them.
My great aunt remembered using re-usable syringes and needles (!) way back when
IV's and venipunture started without gloves on (some of the old school nurses I learned from tore a hole where the index finger would go, to feel the vein)
I'm not old school . . . I've been a nurse as long as you. Just a tad bit older.
Shift report was done between the two charge nurses, with the rest of us standing around the fiberglass casing of the nurses desk listening in. Afterwards, the charge tore off the rooms to divide the assignments. By the way, 'room' used to be one of the five rights.
Under NO circumstances were we EVER allowed to speak directly to the doctor. That was the charge nurse's job and you better believe she ripped you a new one if she found out that you had spoken with HIM (no female doctors).
We also had male orderlies assigned to male patients only.
Lumbar laminectomies; patients being admitted the night before their surgery; Librium being widely used for alcohol withdrawal/DT's; blue dye; potassium chloride vials on med-surg units.
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That sounds like a dream…