These just seems so gross to me

[horrorxgirl]

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?

[notpuurfctbtgdenghns]

More and more health facilities are now conscientious about environmental health; and they know the concept of : reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Hats off also to those facilities that do not just clean, but also disinfect utensils (commode, bedpans, urinals, beds, wheelchairs) routinely.

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

more and more health facilities are now conscientious about environmental health; and they know the concept of : reduce, reuse, and recycle.

hats off also to those facilities that do not just clean, but also disinfect utensils (commode, bedpans, urinals, beds, wheelchairs) routinely.

i have two words for you....well said.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

This isn't about environmental health. It's squeezing a few extra pennies out of the bottom line at the expense of patient safety.

[beckster_01, BSN, RN]

^ Agreed. If we are reducing, reusing, and recycling bedpans I would much rather they return to autoclaving metal bedpans vs. a group bath of plastic ones.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Yes, what you should really do is find out what material they are made of, and what disinfectant (if any) is safe to use on the product without breaking it down.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Im getting a bit confused in this thread. Are we talking about the pink or blue plastic bed pans? If so..how often are you thowing them away. At our place, they are per resident and are thrown out when the resident is discharged or they get super nasty or old. Same thing with urinals...when they are dumped out, they should be rinsed with water and a squirt of soap and water. Why would you need to boil it? If you are using bleach to clean, that should help with any smells or stains from the urine.

Most LTCs still use cloth rags for peri care. Waaaay cheaper than disposables and I think they clean better.

You've all peaked my interest in how facilty cleans these...might need to post the question in the LTC forum since it deals with longer term patients and longer use of supplies like the bed pans etc.

[notpuurfctbtgdenghns]

Thanks

[Hygiene Queen]

When I started as a cna 14 years ago....we used soap and water and wash rags and also cloth diapers for those who needed them. I still think that is the best way also.

We used cloth briefs, too (as well as disposable).

No briefs at night.

Cloth chux.

Crisco for moisture barrier.

No decubes.

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

we used cloth briefs, too (as well as disposable).

no briefs at night.

cloth chux.

crisco for moisture barrier.

no decubes.

did we go to the same nursing school?...

[Asystole RN]

My god, they are disinfecting and reusing bedpans. It's not like they are using the bedpans for cereal bowls. Does everyone throw away the towels after they use them? Do you throw your hands away after you wipe yourself? I'm willing to bet that those bedpans are 100% more clean than the employee's hands. At least the bedpans get washed occasionally.

Bedpans don't have to be sterile, just clean.