what do you say to patients...

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...to alleviate their embarrassment after a 'code brown'? most people that have accidents are mortified about it; I reassure them that this happens all the time and i don't mind cleaning it up at all. but most people are still upset/embarrassed. Any ideas for what else i could say or do to maybe help them feel a bit less so?

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Specializes in LTC/MDS.

Can't really help you. I don't think there is anything you can say to help with the embarrassment but just try to not make a big deal of it.

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I let them know that it happens all the time and that they wouldn't be in the hospital if they didn't need a little extra help. Then I change the subject and try to distract them.

If they're doing bowel prep, I also warn them in advance that it might happen.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

unfortunately ....no....just say it happens all the time and move to the next subject

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"Your CNA will be on their way to clean you up; I am busy [insert "changing catheter for another pt" or "going on break" or "charting" or "starting an tube feed" or "preparing an IV"]"

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I let them know that it happens all the time and that they wouldn't be in the hospital if they didn't need a little extra help. Then I change the subject and try to distract them

yeah i do try to change the topic pretty quickly after the initial 'it's ok/happens all the time', thinking if we talk about something else they'll not feel quite as awkward.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
"Your CNA will be on their way to clean you up; I am busy [insert "changing catheter for another pt" or "going on break" or "charting" or "starting an tube feed" or "preparing an IV"]"

Assisting your patient with this as you await the arrival of the CNA would be beneath you? You really have no time to spend with a helpless patient who just soiled themselves?

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I try to tell them if this kind of mess bothered me, I would have never chosen to be a nurse. And remind them they aren't the first patient nor the last to do that and try to stay very professional and matter of fact

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Assisting your patient with this as you await the arrival of the CNA would be beneath you? You really have no time to spend with a helpless patient who just soiled themselves?

Lighten up, it was a joke. It was funny.

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Just say "No need to apologize. It's our job to help you when you're ill, and we're happy to do it." Be matter of fact and cheerful without being creepy. Move on to next topic; you can get an entire assessment completed when dealing with a code brown, or, depending upon the situation, a good amount of education (diet, disease process, side effects of meds, PT and physical strengthening, lots of topics are applicable to code brown situations).

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Specializes in Medic, ER, Flight, ICU, Onc.

You can also remind them that embarrassing things (some very similar) happen to people who aren't sick and it's not their fault either. Mostly it helps to just be matter of fact about it.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
Lighten up, it was a joke. It was funny.

You might want to read a few more posts from NOADLS before coming to their defense; this is a dominant theme in his/her post history. (Also, take note of their name) :rolleyes:

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