Per Magnet Directives, Nursing first Cleans Bodily Fluids, then Housekeeping

Nurses Relations

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Hi

I am a nurse and I work at NSLIJ NY. I need to raise an issue to magnet and do not know how to.

If there is a feces or urine on the floor, it has to cleaned first by Nurses or PCA before the housekeeping comes and mop the floor. I found this embarrassing for nurses to do that in this century. If it's on the patient, I understand. But this is on the floor and why nurses has to clean the floor not house keeping. I am sure it's not how it suppose to be. But we have to do it because we are not union and we cannot raise our voice. I have spoke to my manager about it and i was told housekeeping has union and that's their policy.

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Yes, that is how it's "SUPPOSED to be". Your manager has laid it out for you. Housekeeping has a contract to disinfect the area, after nursing cleans the visible waste.

In this case, a magnet would not be of any help. I suggest mops and paper towels.:roflmao:

Although I have cleaned up stuff that seems to have a magnetic quality.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

This thread made me laugh. Some responses are just so outrageous because they're so true!

One post reminded me of the proverbial lady who had to houseclean her house BEFORE the hired help came in to help with the cleaning.

Re trashcans - has anyone ever REALLY seen a housekeeper sanitize the trashcan??? Or does everyone just keep on only changing the bag?

And don't you just love it when a nurse doesn't empty the suction canister after use. Like it's being left to a CNA to empty and then CORRECTLY reassemble. Just hope that the suction canister (with assoc equip) has been put together correctly, esp if needed for an emergency. I've known nurses who didn't know how to setup suction, much less a CNA doing it. And they have no idea how to troubleshoot the equip when it doesn't work - 'got to get a new machine'. Oh, and then there's the nurse who'll deliberately leave a nasty suction because 'she didn't use it and the last nurse didn't empty it'! Oh, yeah, just keep leaving it that way. VENTING.

Esophageal varices bleedout - nasty cleanup. Like are there ever enough supplies?

And speaking of enough supplies or access - extra toilet paper? Nope, locked in a hskpg closet and nsg doesn't have a key. Extra lightbulb? Nope, locked in a janitor's closet and nsg doesn't have a key. Toilet plunger? Easier access to the Holy Grail or Ark of the Covenant.

And speaking of toilets - I am not a plumber so if the WC is clogged, so be it until the maint man gets to it. I won't even flush a suspected problem toilet for fear of starting a backup flood. Not worth the flooding potential. Probably no mop bucket avail and extra sheets/blankets are at premium.

Issues that OP is seeing doesn't occur just in hospitals. We all see it wherever ...

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Yep, this is pretty much common knowledge. That, and no one I know would be disrespectful enough to assume housekeeping would or should have to deal with that. Embarrassed? I'd be embarrassed if housekeeping came around and I HAD left it for them.

Get over yourself or don't work bedside.

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