PTAs dealing with bodily fluids or not?

[Ryan Walker]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone hear knows anything about PTAs and there career. In regards to patients bodily fluids and clean up of that. How often do they do clean up in the hospital setting vs out patient facilities, or home health. I know a nurse that said she sees PTAs in the hospital changing some type of poop bag on the stomach.. But is that the extent of the clean up or is there more that I don't know about. I am hopefully going soon, to shadow a local PT and hopefully PTAs at the clinic down my street. Just wanted some insight before I start moving towards this program.

[Karou]

What's a PTA? Physical therapy assistant?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

You might want to ask on a PT forum but do you think if a patient vomits or has loose bowels the PTA just stands here and calls someone for help? In an outpatient setting where it's PT, PTA and maybe a receptionist who do you think cleans up?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Where I work, PTAs deal with a lot of sputum as PT (not Respiratory) does Chest PT for all patients with CF and other respiratory illnesses.

[flyersfan88]

Your obsession with body fluids is a bit much to be working with sick people.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Perhaps consider a career in IT. You'll only have your own fluids to contend with

[ktwlpn, LPN]

You might want to ask on a PT forum but do you think if a patient vomits or has loose bowels the PTA just stands here and calls someone for help? In an outpatient setting where it's PT, PTA and maybe a receptionist who do you think cleans up?

brouhaha....That is exactly what happens where I work....

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

brouhaha....That is exactly what happens where I work....

I'm thinking outpatient like the OP stated--no housekeeping, no nursing, the PTA is the clean up crew...