These just seems so gross to me

allnurses Guide · May 14, 2012

So somebody at my facility has decided to make the rule that the cna's on 11-7 have to collect all of the plastic bed pans from everyone's room and soak them together in some bleach in the soiled utility room. I mean I know that bleach kills a lot of things, but ew. And this will surely wash off all of the names written on the bed pans, people may not get their original bed pan. This just gives me the willies. Am I overreacting here?

Maybe.

Back in the olden days, the dayshift collected all the bedpans and I, working eveningshift, scrubbed them in a disinfectant solution. Nightshift then took them all and placed them in the autoclave to sterilize.

No one ever got the same bedpan (or urinal, emesis basin, wash basin or I&O graduate) back.

This is probably very hard to imagine for those used to everything being disposable, as things tend to be these days.

Bleach is one of the best disinfectants there is, too, if the washing and disinfecting process is done properly.

RockinChick66 · May 14, 2012

So somebody at my facility has decided to make the rule that the cna's on 11-7 have to collect all of the plastic bed pans from everyone's room and soak them together in some bleach in the soiled utility room. I mean I know that bleach kills a lot of things, but ew. And this will surely wash off all of the names written on the bed pans, people may not get their original bed pan. This just gives me the willies. Am I overreacting here?

No! That is gross!!!

Andy Droid · May 14, 2012

How are the toilet seats cleaned in hospitals?

Is swapping bedpans after bleaching any worse / different from simply being the next pt in a room (of those able to use the washroom) ?

noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP · May 14, 2012

Gross. I'd rather poop into a plastic bag.

allnurses Guide · May 14, 2012

I know it seems gross, but is it really any more gross than putting your lips on the silverware in a restaurant?

I mean, goodness only knows what cooties were on that fork before you got it.

But it was cleaned and sterilized.

Or what about a public pool?

If the pans are sterilized, it should be okay.

allnurses Guide · May 14, 2012

Gross. I'd rather poop into a plastic bag.

Lol!

The visual...

Thanks, noyesno!

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · May 14, 2012

I know it seems gross, but is it really any more gross than putting your lips on the silverware in a restaurant?
I mean, goodness only knows what cooties were on that fork before you got it.
But it was cleaned and sterilized.
Or what about a public pool?
If the pans are sterilized, it should be okay.

I swear that is the same thing I thought about, PLUS, usually NO ONE but me cleans the public toilet after every use. I wish public toilet seats were soaked every night in bleach!

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · May 14, 2012

You know how you don't get sick when you go camping, but there must be a ton of germs out there? All those "outdoor" germs cancel each other out in the woods. It works the same way with bedpans in nursing homes and forks in restaurants.

Just don't wash the bedpans and forks together. That would be gross.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · May 14, 2012

Hahahahah, but True.

horrorxgirl · May 14, 2012

They aren't autoclaved or sterilized. I would trust autoclaving because they do that with surgical instruments. Bleach isn't a sterilant, it's a disinfectant. Good point about the silverware although I was under the impression they are steam cleaned in a dishwasher. I just can't get over the bleccch factor.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 14, 2012

I swear that is the same thing I thought about, PLUS, usually NO ONE but me cleans the public toilet after every use. I wish public toilet seats were soaked every night in bleach!

Boston, Why wash them after? :eek: .......I wash them before I use a public toilet! :smokin: ...... :lol2:

OP.....why are they washing the bedpans......they are disposable. In the old days we did wash bedpans but they were metal, NOT porous plastic.