Satisfaction from wiping POO? GASP!

tomc5555 · Feb 20, 2012

For me, its time well spent as I can check the persons skin, show dignity by keeping them covered, show respect and thank them for assisting me in my task. I also use the time to talk, sometimes just explaining what I'm about to do.

i've been thanked more than once for being thorough in my care. And families have thanked me for treating their loved ones with dignity and respect.

erhnurse · Feb 20, 2012

I've always said that if I could receive RN pay for being a CNA I would do it. I worked as a CNA in nursing home during nursing school and I grew to love my patients and the position (as it should be). It is a 100% satisfying feeling to know that you have made someone feel comfortable in the short amount of time you have with them. We are taught to provide total patient care, and that includes making someone feel good about themselves. Whether it be decreasing discomfort from a bowel movement on a raw behind or painting the nails and brushing the hair of a once-diva, it all greatly improves quality of life and that's what we are there for, cheers to you:)

loriangel14, RN · Feb 20, 2012

I never forget the gratitude of one patient that was unusually incontinent and had soaked the bed.She was a young woman and completely mortified.It felt so good to get her up to the shower and return her to a freshly made bed in a dry gown.Still one of the best things about the job.

Mr. Murse · Feb 20, 2012

I worked as a tech before graduating, and always found it very gratifying to help people with the most disgusting tasks. I still do. It's not that I enjoy the task itself, of course, but that I know I am helping them by doing something few people are willing and/or able to do.

The first moment I remember feeling with certainty that I was in the right field was after an elderly woman, while standing at the sink to wash up, had somehow sneezed out her NG tube and had a bowel movement at the same time, leaving a nasty mess to clean up on her and the floor around her. As I was cleaning her and the floor up, she was apologizing as though she had been scolded at some point in her past for making messes like these. I assured her it was okay and that I would take care of it, and the look of gratitude I got from her let me know this was where I was meant to be. An odd moment to have standing there with a handful of stool-soiled rags and a sneezed up NG tube. ha.

I'm no longer religious, but it always reminds me of the Biblical stories of Christ washing people's feet. It was the ultimate sign of love and humility and truly caring about another human being, which is really what nursing is all about.

caregiver1977 · Feb 20, 2012

I can tell you from personal experience that when a patient has something embarrassing happen to them in the hospital (like a bowel or wetting accident), and they are not treated with dignity, it stays with them for a long time, if not for the rest of their lives. We also remember and appreciate those who treat us with dignity during this time, even if we are too embarrassed to say "thank you."

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Feb 20, 2012

OP--I'm with you 100%. When you can see the difference your care makes- it's very gratifying. That's what I miss about the med-surg floor. Putting in tubes, too, when someone has a distended stomach or bladder, and making them comfortable justlikethat...that too.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

I love nothing better than to give a good bath, hair washed, pt shaved, drsg changed, lines changed, ETT rotated and retaped, and linen changed and have my patient fluffed and tucked in bed that even with a tube in every orifice that they own and then a few man made ones and they actually look "comfortable"........makes me feel REAL good. Then when the family comes in and they notice how comfortable they look is very gratifying. It's like gardening or cleaning, it feels like you've "accomplished" something, very satisfying.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

Needless to say, just the other day I was making my rounds when I walked into ICU and heard one of our RN's almost in tears saying " OMG it's all over the rails, your hair, nails, toes, and even your back" I went and gather all supplies needed and rolled my sleeves and we both cleaned the entire mess, leaving the pt. smelling like roses. However, as we walked away we heard a Thunder coming from the blue pads we knew he had done it again, at this time she told me, "You go ahead you helped me enough, I'll change him again" Therefore, I always say when you think you're done life throws you a curve ball, & you have to roll with the punches. Having said that, I'm sure that everyone that has posted on this thread would like to know if it was their mother in that bed, they would rest assure that their loved one; would be taken care off with dignity and compassion. Lastly, we all have to remember that one day it could be one of us laying in that bed, and hope to be treated with the highest caliber of nursing.

P.S. Some of you made me LOL with your comments :lol2:

allnurses Guide · Feb 20, 2012

This is one of the big "plus" signs of doing in home private duty nursing. In a home with several family members needing care we had the time to do the lady's hair and makeup as well as give the men a good shave (something my ex-navy nurse instructor drilled into our brains as tantamount to CPR :)) Like hey_suz said it's good for us to see the difference and it was so much fun to hold the mirror up so they could see their hair and face.

Wishinonastar, BSN · Feb 20, 2012

I agree. When it comes down to it good old bedside care and making your patient feel better are the rewarding part of nursing. Skin care, turning, getting those bottoms clean and dry, that is the kind of thing that makes you feel like you have done something. Nothing wrong with this at all. I agree too that I would rather wipe BM then suction any day. Don't know why this is so, but mucus is just, well, so hard to clean? Is that it? Sticky, slimy. Never seems to be clean or gone. As soon as you are done they cough and here we go again. Of course stool can be that way too sometimes LOL.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

Surprising to see so many people equating poo with being a CNA duty. I had one 3-11 crew who really would come together in a "surprise"-patient on the floor, projectile emesis, and especially poo. (We referred to these as calling the Squat team.)

Anyone who had a second would come in and one time we had a lady who was a day away from age 101 who had all her faculties. She called out and said "could someone come in when they can and give me some help?"

She had an unexpected BM "emergency." The tech called out to the desk and said Are there any Squat team members there?

Four of the 5 working showed up. The lady had been the choir director at her husband's church. She started singing in this beautiful soprano. Before we knew it all four staff "squat team" joined in. We gave that lady the best we had, and in turn she gave us a beautiful rendition of "To God be the Glory."

Now some 15-20 years later when I hear that hymn, I don't think of poo, but of the Glory of being a NURSE.

1010MASH · Feb 20, 2012

I applaud you for your sincere comment. You are one of few who actually care about somebody else. I work in an assisted living place and I am constantly having to clean someone up, who had been left in thier soaked sheets and clothes from the "am" girls, because they refused to clean the resident up. Just yesterday it happenned again. Not just 1 resident, but a few. Its sad to see the resident crying because nobody bothered to answer her call button to help assist in going to the restroom. I am off today, so heaven knows what's going on while I am off. Our super does not care and neither does the exec director of the place. All they care about is the 4-6 grand they collect from each resident who lives there. The ppl you help are very fortunate to have you on thier side. God bless you because doing that kind of work is not very plesant but it needs to be done.