Toileting Morbidly obese patients?

Nurses General Nursing

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Does anyone have any tips or tricks or tools for toileting morbidly obese patients?

For women, I've found that bedpans don't always work and sometimes the pee goes up.

Men sometimes need help with a urinal because they can't reach down there.

And some patients who can walk to the bathroom are unable to wipe themselves (they're too big), which becomes an issue if they have urinary frequency or diarrhea, and need assistance every 20 or 30 minutes...

Ideas, suggestions? I've had some really frustrating shifts and want to come up with some ideas to meet the patients needs and make it easier on everyone. I work med-surg.

Thanks.

I agree with ordering bariatric equiptment for your patients. Also, for females on a bedpan, have them bend/spread their legs as much as they can and place a pad between their legs. Any urine that doesn't make it into the bedpan will be absorbed by the pad.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

These are all great tips.

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Specializes in Tele, Med-Surg, MICU.

Thank you so much everyone for your suggestions & ideas! Keep 'em coming!

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I'm glad someone started this thread. I appreciate all of the advice.

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