Okay so being a cna.. we come across some really unpleasent smells (i'm still in school, but in the clinic)
Second or third day at the clinic we had a resident who we cleaning up her diaper, and who also had 3-4 bed sores. FIRST TIME I SAW IN PERSON. I thought i was fine with it, but being so close to her- next to the bed. The smell of the BM and rotting skin or the bed sores, couldn't take it, and almost threw up and fainted. Thankfully I didn't, but man was I close. Not a good feeling lol.
My point for this blog is... What are was to help with the smell? Breath through your mouth? I don't know, any tips??
So is wearing a mask not usually allowed? I was planning to wear a mask if I had to deal with a stronger smell. I too am not a CNA yet, but will be starting school soon.
I don't know necessarily that face masks "aren't allowed", but in my five years as an aide, I have never once seen someone wear one while changing someone except in certain isolation situations. I've never worked anyplace that had masks just sitting around, either...they are provided by the room for isolation rooms, but I'd have to hunt down the nurse every time I wanted a mask in normal situations, as the only ones I've ever seen in my facility are kept in the med room, and I"m pretty sure my nurses would want to kill me for bothering them every time something smelled bad.
Think of the patient... Wearing a mask to help change them or deal with their scent?
Personally, I would be really embarrassed and offended by that.
I was actually told that wearing masks, making audible gagging or disgusted noises, or commenting rudely on the smell was NOT allowed when I was training to become a CNA. The pt already knows and probably feels bad about it anyway. As a CNA, you should try not to make that worse for them. It's not their fault.
True someone did mention that before on this discussion. I am not yet a CNA so I would not know how bad the smell gets, but if wearing a mask will help me focus on providing better care, then I will probably wear the mask. (hearing that some have to turn their heads and have difficulty breathing to do their work does not sound very safe to me... I have a friend who has told me about how hard it is to focus on few VA patients, due to the smell from their wounds and conditions.)
But then again I'm premature at this point since I do not have enough experience, so who knows (like I said) I probably won't need it since it might not be so bad.
Personally, as long as I let the patient know that the smell is nothing to be embarrassed about, I believe it shouldn't be offensive.
But then again, if that is against policy for some facilities, that's a whole different story.
And just to be on the safe side, I want to make sure that in any way I do not want to make the patient feel worse. It is sad to see that there is a policy needed for such common courtesy. Voluntarily gagging loudly or commenting rudely would definitely not be allowed if I had a facility concerning patients.
I'm sure despite the smell, most (if not every) cna try their best to help their resident, patient, or client feel as comfortable as they can. This intent is one of the many reasons why I feel a career relative to nursing or any other healthcare occupation is so rewarding. Being able to work with people with good intentions and patients who show so much gratitude for it.
I have been thinking about this too. Not only the smells though.. But the sight as well. I have always thought I would be fine with this kinda thing untill last week.
My husband was not wearing a helmet at work the other day and wacked his head on a piece of tubing. He came home to get me to check it. As I was cleaning it out I was saying "Are you OK?" "Do you feel alright?" "Do you feel like you're going to puke?".... He says "No, do you" And just like that... I got dizzy and sick and had to stop helping him and sit down!!
I am hoping this was a one time thing. Maybe due to the fact that I did not eat enough that morning or that it was a family member.... I would hate to whimp out over something so simple when things like this are such a big part of the career I have such a huge passion for!!
McCoy, I'm a little lost on what you are trying to say. Are you trying to say that the smell might have gotten you dizzy? I hope you're alright now. Please do eat since that always makes the difference at work (Might help your dizziness).
i know it's really just how you feel. i could defend my side with the same argument. and i'm sure lots of ppl would side with me on this and not admit this... if the patient is already embarrassed enough doesn't mean you have to always always hold it in and suck it up..which i have done many many many times and will usually not use a mask. however, some cna's are different... if a patient is cdiff and failed the first test the first time..which has happened then comes back positive w/ cdiff the 2nd time around...then ur like omg...i didn't use a mask...so if it's bad enough where the smell gets outside the patients room and out on the unit...use a mask unless ur employer states it's against their policy...hey, we're the ones cleaning it up ..not them...
and i think that if you're polite enough about the situation and just get it done without explaining ur self in detail on y ur using a mask...it's obvious n they know why...i think only oneself can take their bm smell not the other way around...i wouldn't be offended...
i'd say oops sorry...but thank you for cleaning me up and thnx for being so caring and responding to my call light promptly. but we know now that not everyone is like that.
i understand ppl don't do it coz they don't wanna offend anyone. and working in an environment like that i'm pretty sure we don't mean to offend anyone on any situation point blank. however, if u feel like ur gonna puke, just put the mask on... you can kinda feel if the person is the type to get easily irritable or upset anyway. sometimes they are alert patients, sometimes they're not...just always be nice and treat them delicately...i have never gotten anyone get offended..as a matter of fact...i've gotten a lot of recognition for patient care...smile kindly and let the patient know you will be changing them and get them nice, fresh and cleaned up...nothin' to it.. very simple
as for the " we are not allowed to wear them and ask a nurse first" i have never experienced this with my nurses...they are awesome..they feel if we need to wear them, then wear them...not every single time but, sometimes it's really bad they even grab me one. nothin wrong with that. and we have them on our iso carts yes...however they are in a box on our iso carts and in a closed box. we don't abuse the mask privilege in other words ya know? hope this helps!
As soon-to-be cna, I really value your input. I'm not sure if others were implying that wearing a mask would be unacceptable, but like you said, I do understand that it can be a little embarrassing for the resident. However in some situations I think the mask is reasonable like you stated.
I'm glad nurses in your facility do not mind at all. I hope my nurses are the same when I work for one soon.
You will probably get used to the smell of BMs. I just finished A&P I. All of my lab partners were complaining on the smell of the cats were dissecting. For me, it walk a cakewalk, compared to BMs all day. One thing that can be worse than a BM is a catheter bag that has been stewing all day!
I remember when doing my CNA clinicals I was fine the whole way through - feces, urine, vomit, you name it, I was fine with it. Then one day I get this sweet little lady with an ostomy bag that needed to changed.
It took all of my will power to keep myself from gagging. I could smell it before the bag was even opened - it was rather full (so full I was amazed the clamp at the bottom of the bag was still holding!). I believe a CNA from the night shift may have conveniently not emptied it.
yousoldtheworld
1,196 Posts
I don't know necessarily that face masks "aren't allowed", but in my five years as an aide, I have never once seen someone wear one while changing someone except in certain isolation situations. I've never worked anyplace that had masks just sitting around, either...they are provided by the room for isolation rooms, but I'd have to hunt down the nurse every time I wanted a mask in normal situations, as the only ones I've ever seen in my facility are kept in the med room, and I"m pretty sure my nurses would want to kill me for bothering them every time something smelled bad.