Taking out the trash

[VAC]

Are any of you expected to take out the trash at work? I'm not talking about picking up after yourself in general, but taking the bag of trash to the soiled utility room.

I got offended when a nurse that followed me felt the need to point out that the trash can in a paitent's room was full and the room a little untidy when I'd left the morning before. I asked if housekeeping wasn't around all day to do it. We are expected to put away soiled linen bags, and pick up after ourselves, but I draw the line at taking out the trash. Housekeeping seems to be stretched a little too thin.. For the record, the patient insisted he wanted to sleep, as he had just recovered from an episode of shortness of breath, so I chose not to make extra noise in the room making it pretty. My other patients room was left spotless however.

What would you think if you went to a dentist, lawyer or gynecologist and you saw them taking out the garbage at their place of business. Aren't we also professionals? Let me know if my thinking is off the wall before I fire off an E-mail to my manager. And thanks for letting me rant :angryfire

[kellilou3]

RNPATL, you're right, I have no idea what a typical day will be like for me as a nurse, and I would take offense to having trash duty added to my list of responsibilities if I didn't even have time to perform the basic necessities of the job. The point that I was attempting to make was more specifically in reference to your statement that young people do not consider picking up trash a professional job responsibility once they have worked for and earned their degree. As a young person, I feel that a professional opinion of myself comes from the high standards at which I perform, regardless of the profession or task. Of course, I can't speak for anyone else.

I appreciate you, and everyone on this board, being respectful and open to my and other future nurses' opinions, however limited and unsubstantiated they may be at this point.

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

i was a nursing assistant in an assisted living facility and had a similar experience. The aides started helping the servers clear the dining room after breakfast because most of us were friends and the server had to get to school in the morning. Well after doing this of our own free will and helping spirit, there came a time when we were too busy to help. THe Kitchen manager complained and we were REPRIMANDED for not helping clear dishes after meals! I about blew my top, this was not my job and in fact is an entirely other PAID POSITION and yet because i was being helpful when i had the time, I was in trouble when my ACTUAL job demanded that i be elsewhere helping a resident. Now Im not saying this is always going to be the case in all facilities, but everybody knows the attitude of their administration and what the likely outcome will be in their facility. for me, i learned to be a team player in a "pinch" but to not always be "overly" helpful "just because" because in that particular job i WOULD be taken advantage of. It is a sad way to look at things but I know that i will remember this (and a few other similar experiences) in future endeavors.

You learned a lesson that will really help you in your nursing career.

[RNPATL, DNP, RN]

Thanks Kelli and good luck in school.

[Farkinott, RN]

I don't think we pay all that money for a Bachelor of Nursing to do somone elses job. Sure, exceptions will occur but in general, do you see anyone helping nurses when they don't have to?!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Sure, exceptions will occur but in general, do you see anyone helping nurses when they don't have to?!

Why yes i have.

All the time, at my job. Never have i heard so many people say to each other (and hold various job titles): "Can i help you with anything?"

The kind of teamwork where no one sits the bench. Or leaves a stank pile of garbage in a room spilling out of the can. Despite whatever degree they hold. :)

[jamesgeorge]

I am very opposed to taking out the trash as routine. In nursing there is a tendency for hospital adminstration, nurse managers and nurses themselves to take up the slack and I applaud that but nurses get taken advantage of. Here is a similar example. Our 3-11 clerk had extended illness and was out for several months. Now on any given day I don't mind answering the phones and working the printer, but the expectation became that because we could suck it up for a day, we could suck it up for three months. In the same way taking out a stinky trash bag turns into 3 less housekeepers on a particular shift.

As long as nursing takes it we'll keep getting it.

You don't expect radiology, RT, or MD's to take out the trash do you? This is a team isn't it?

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

I take out the trash daily from my office. No big deal.

[casper1]

Housekeeping at my hospital only works until 3:30pm. Evening trash is emptied by the Techs and the Nurses. If a floor need moping or a toilet need cleaning we do that to.

[casper1]

I really don't mind emptying the trash or even doing light houekeeping. But one thing really bugs me. If a patient spills his meal tray on the floor during housekeeping hours, housekeeping tells me it not their responsibility to help

clean up the mess. The nurse or tech is suppose to pick up the broken glass

and any spilled food. We aren't given any cleaning supplies no mops or brooms, we have to use bath blankets & towels. Housekeeping adamently refuses to do anything but go over the floor with a wet mop after we cleaned

up the mess.

[Robinette]

I've never worked in a facility where Housekeeping didn't stop in every patient's room at least twice a shift. That said, I would have done as you did. I would have let the patient rest and not disturb him/her.

If for some reason Housekeeping wasn't stopping in a patient's room timely I would have tried to keep the room cleaned up myself, but I do agree with you that it doesn't fall within our job description per se, nor the Nurse Practice Act.

I'd also ask my manager what was happening to Housekeeping.

[Robinette]

Addendum: You didn't mention a pile of stinking garbage so I assume it wasn't that drastic a situation :)

[Robinette]

Nurses fought hard to get rid of these chores, so they could spend time doing clinical work. And now it seems it's coming back around.

Sorry, but I don't see it as a nurse's job. Let the CEO come down and pull the trash, or the nurse manager, or the department head. The more you do, the more management will just heap upon you.

Yes! I agree! We need to change our mindsets!