The Nurse's job description doesn't include "household maintenance" but how many times have we had to take care of something other than patient healthcare needs? Tightening a loose screw, switching out a soap dispenser, changing a light bulb are a few that come to mind. We wear many different hats in this profession. How about you? What non-Nursing duties have you had to perform?
No Stars In My Eyes 3,658 Posts Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN. Has 43 years experience. Jul 18, 2015 I work private duty in patient's homes. I have bathed, brushed, scratched and walked many dogs. All voluntarily, by the way.On the other hand, when a patient's wife brought her stored silver down from the attic for me to polish while her husband napped?Uh, NO.
calivianya, BSN, RN 2,418 Posts Specializes in ICU. Jul 18, 2015 Housekeeping - because the housekeeping staff isn't allowed to touch anything potentially infectious. I really want to know why the heck anyone would work in a hospital in environmental services, a place where blood and body fluids are everywhere, if they refuse to touch blood and body fluids. And why they're allowed to get away with it. I have SO MANY call me into a room they're cleaning, point out a spot of blood/puke/whatever on the floor, and say they're not cleaning it and make a nurse clean it. And the pointing out that there is a suction container in the room, can the nurse please take care of it. It's not rocket science to put the caps on top of the holes on suction canisters and throw them in the biohazard bin, but heaven forbid anyone suggest a housekeeper do it. And it's company policy for them to do that! I think we ought to just lay them off. I can probably clean a room and get it ready for a new admit faster than housekeepers, who always make the bed wrong anyway.
No Stars In My Eyes 3,658 Posts Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN. Has 43 years experience. Jul 18, 2015 calivianya --Not be snarky in the least, but now ya got me really curious....how do the housekeepers make a bed 'wrong'?
nursecathi 50 Posts Specializes in critical care, LTC. Has 20+ years experience. Jul 20, 2015 Fix the copier. I've worked on it more often than Canon!
joycejoycean 5 Posts Has 28 years experience. Jul 23, 2015 Going to the kitchen and making a sandwich for a late admit. The hair net is adorable (sarcasm) .
guitargirl88 20 Posts Specializes in PCCN. Has 5 years experience. Aug 24, 2015 Detangling IV cords! That is the worst!
FieryPsychRN, BSN 65 Posts Specializes in Psych. Has 14 years experience. Aug 25, 2015 Fix the TV remote. Find the right TV channel, fix the beds...I should have applied to the engineering department!
