Told to clean room

[cargalrn]

Last night we were getting plowed under with admissions, 4 nurses, 1 CNA, 32 patients, no unit clerk, paper charting, moving patients to different rooms, and the supervisor had us clean a room. Ok, so first I argued and he told me to do it. Went in the room, clean bed, and my colleague took saniwipes and wiped things down. Later he called and told us to move another pt and clean the room. Patient is MRSA, we have no access to mops etc and this time I totally refused. Not only were we dangerously low staffed, but it was over the top wrong to order us to do this. No housekeeping at night. Oh BTW, I have been there three yrs and was never told to do this, but other nurses and the supervisor said this is not unusual. Oh yeah, this hospital is one that is closing. I can't wait to leave.

Would you want your loved one in this room?

[elkpark]

I've only had to clean rooms a couple of times in 7 years. For those of you who say "not my job" you may want to look at a copy of your job description. The last time I used that excuse, I was presented with a copy of an RN job title that had the usual stuff and also stated "and any other activities that supervision deems necessary for patient care". Found out that this is how many facilities get around this type of stuff.

Yes -- every RN job description I've ever seen (every job description in healthcare I've ever seen, period) includes some statement along the lines of "... and other duties as assigned by the supervisor." I've also cleaned plenty of rooms and made up plenty of beds in my time, in small facilities where housekeeping wasn't available after regular hours. What is the hospital supposed to do, decline admissions while empty rooms/beds sit there waiting to be cleaned? If you were the person needing to be admitted, would you like to be sitting in limbo somewhere because the nursing staff are too good, or special, or important to get a room ready for you? (I'm just talking about routine, ordinary circumstances, not rooms with special infection control issues.)

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Us nurses must realize this is not a tv show fantasy and that certain circumstances we will have to be flexible and do an odd job.

[oramar]

I've only had to clean rooms a couple of times in 7 years. For those of you who say "not my job" you may want to look at a copy of your job description. The last time I used that excuse, I was presented with a copy of an RN job title that had the usual stuff and also stated "and any other activities that supervision deems necessary for patient care". Found out that this is how many facilities get around this type of stuff.

That is a totally different issue than the infection control one. The nurse that did this initial post did clean the first room but bulked at the second because it was MRSA room. If I were a patient I would rather sit in ER than occupy a room that had been cleaned with wipes.

[Mr I Care]

Don't let your pride and position go to your head. How do you think housekeepers feel about nurses ? In addition, think about depreciative remarks doctors make aganist nurses. Just because one has a degree and is held at higher status does not make them better than the next person. This is an example of how we as medical professionals forget about what is important in life and in our care facilities. If I had to clean a room properly to ensure thay my pts are cared for in safe/ clean environment then so be it. You have neccessties to be a good nurse but you should check you attitude and live all your pride at the door. We are equal docs, nurse, cna, emt, m.asst, and housekeepers

[MedSurgeMess]

That is a totally different issue than the infection control one. The nurse that did this initial post did clean the first room but bulked at the second because it was MRSA room. If I were a patient I would rather sit in ER than occupy a room that had been cleaned with wipes.

I agree with the infection control room issue, but the OP also stated that they had argued about cleaning the original room as well..I know I wouldn't like to do it either if I were that busy, but sometimes it just comes with the territory.

[cargalrn]

Really, my pride and position has not gone to my head. I get alot of practice taking care of open areas on butts and cleaning them and holding urinals in place when I see frail geriatric male patients trying to get out of bed when no one else will get off their butts, to feel like a position has gone to my head. When I leave that place I feel so stressed from being pulled in every direction, including being unit clerk and aid when their are none, which is most of the time, that I could cry.

I just feel that if you are expected to clean you are being taken advantage of. I am not a waitress or a housecleaner. I am a good nurse who assists the patient in recovering or pain or infection control, etc, or managing his plan of care, or having a good death.

When I was in pediatric homecare, the parents would often assign household duties. We were told NOT do perform them, as they were not skilled nursing duties, and the parents would lose their nurse.

I didn't go to nursing school to clean. The hospital should plan and staff for these events. I will go over and above for a patient.

I already don't get paid enough. I sincerely hope my new job is better.

BTW, If I had time and it wouldn't compromise patient care,I would probably do this if I was asked, not told. But I am not a slave.

[caliotter3]

In LTC facilities, I've done laundry on night shift both as a CNA and LVN. Of course we weren't supposed to be doing this, but when you need the linen, you need the linen. I would not mind cleaning a unit on an emergency basis if I knew the proper way to do it and had access to the required supplies, but I certainly can't see doing this on a regular basis. No way, nurses have too much to do as it is.

[Mr I Care]

I understand and I did not take into account that you are a nurse after all and have many duties. I know as a nurse you are expected to do the impossible, but keep your head up. I am sure your next job will be better because you have learned how to deal with conundrums like this one. I assumed that you were one of those ppl who head is in the clouds based on your post, but I was wrong. Thank you for sharing this experience with us because this will help me in my nursing endeavours.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

This is one of the exceptions where "not my job" is acceptable. A charge RN I worked with did it one night of her own accord because things weren't moving quickly enough for her. It's a bad precedent to be setting.

[Scrubby]

I don't believe nurses should be cleaning rooms, that's the cleaners job. The more non nursing duties we are bullied into doing to save money, the more work we end up doing which takes us away from the bedside. Well done for refusing in the end, hope you find a better job somewhere else.

[susanthomas1954]

Two sides to this story. One: read Florence Nightengale's "Notes on Nursing." It's a quick read, and once you get past the crinoline skirts catching fire in the fire place, it's sobering. After I read it, I got a lot more interested in supervising the cleaning of all rooms. (And my home.)

The other side is: I am so old that when I am put in this situation, rather than refuse to do something, I tell the supervisor things like, "I will be glad to help clean the room, but I can't do it by myself." I also do things like ask the supervisor for a key to the cleaning closet. )It's always on a key ring that no one has access to, so "I can't find it." Bottom line, if the supervisor doesn't come and clean the room his or her own self, it aint gonna be clean. But I never refuse to do anything...I just make the situation impossible. (Watch Columbo reruns if you get asked to do unreasonable things frequently. Very helpful to emulate.) Life is much easier on the supervisor to come do it his/her self than to ask me to do it. I didn't learn this til I was in my 40's, but I try to teach this to all the younger nurses I meet. By the time people get to know me, they know about the high IQ, but they can't get past me if I'm being stupid to help keep someone from dying of MRSA. I have had several patients DIE of MRSA, and it ain't to be played with.

[FowLaf24/7]

It sounds like the ship is sinking, and the situation is getting more and more overwhelming and dangerous. Let's hope nothing serious happens before the hospital is closed.