Who is cleaning poop?

[Donada]

I have am just concluded all my general ed, and am starting to focus on a major. Nursing holds much appeal for me, but I am interested in finding out - do the RNs do clean up work? I have been told that they generally do assessments, administer medication and act as patient advocates. I hope this question doesn't sound stupid - but I really would like to know what the different levels of responsibility are before I get too far into it. Any insight is appreciated.

[ssnurse]

I agree with JillR. You cannot delegate what you are unwilling to do. I have great respect for the CNA's that I work with. I was without one last night on NOC shift and had an incontinent pt. I made up his bed while he was in the shower and he than placed his "poopy" towels on the bed after he came out! (Good lesson for me...!) Poop and bodily fluids are all a part of nursing. Depending on what type of nursing you go into, be prepared for anything. Somtimes it comes down to doing what needs to be done and who is available. Good luck...nursing has many ups and downs but I still love the patient contact and knowing that my patients feel cared for.

[ssnurse]

I agree with JillR. You cannot delegate what you are unwilling to do. I have great respect for the CNA's that I work with. I was without one last night on NOC shift and had an incontinent pt. I made up his bed while he was in the shower and he than placed his "poopy" towels on the bed after he came out! (Good lesson for me...!) Poop and bodily fluids are all a part of nursing. Depending on what type of nursing you go into, be prepared for anything. Somtimes it comes down to doing what needs to be done and who is available. Good luck...nursing has many ups and downs but I still love the patient contact and knowing that my patients feel cared for.

[TeenyBabyRN]

That is one of the many, many, many, many benefits of my specialty (neonatal ICU)!

How much can a one pound baby poop?? (or puke, or drain from a wound, or any other expulsion of an icky body fluid you can dream up)

Any more than about 5cc's worth and we're getting concerned about dehydration from diarrhea!

***I love my babies!!!***

Other pluses:

They dont curse at you.

(their parents might though)

They dont bite, kick, spit at, hit, punch, scratch, or threaten you.

(again, their parents might, but that's what hospital security is for.)

I love my job...couldn't dream of doing anything else!

[TeenyBabyRN]

That is one of the many, many, many, many benefits of my specialty (neonatal ICU)!

How much can a one pound baby poop?? (or puke, or drain from a wound, or any other expulsion of an icky body fluid you can dream up)

Any more than about 5cc's worth and we're getting concerned about dehydration from diarrhea!

***I love my babies!!!***

Other pluses:

They dont curse at you.

(their parents might though)

They dont bite, kick, spit at, hit, punch, scratch, or threaten you.

(again, their parents might, but that's what hospital security is for.)

I love my job...couldn't dream of doing anything else!

[willie2001]

Speaking of poop!! I had to give gastografin to a patient the other day in prep for an abdominal flat plate. The physician wanted to see "if things were moving through". Well, we didn't need an x-ray to confirm the fact that things were indeed "moving through". We had a major Code Brown. There was poop on the floor, the walls, the bed and the patient!!! It was so bad that one poor pregnant nurse lost her lunch.

[willie2001]

Speaking of poop!! I had to give gastografin to a patient the other day in prep for an abdominal flat plate. The physician wanted to see "if things were moving through". Well, we didn't need an x-ray to confirm the fact that things were indeed "moving through". We had a major Code Brown. There was poop on the floor, the walls, the bed and the patient!!! It was so bad that one poor pregnant nurse lost her lunch.