Writing “poop” is unprofessional?

[guest1143647]

I got written up for saying poop. It was one of those nights and instead of saying” large, hard bm” I said “poop”. I just didn’t think it was a big deal. But apparently it was. The DON printed up my nurses note and explained why it was unprofessional. 

This is weirding me out. This is a place that can’t keep nurses btw. 

[quickkarma, BSN]

I have been sick with a cold for 6 days. I am enjoying reading these posts! I was scolded once for documenting that a properly staffed shift would have prevented this fall. Oh man was the DON pissed. What was in place before the fall; what was in place after? All I could muster up back then was the terrible staffing ratios and not enough nursing assistants for the acuity. Oh well. I never did that again. 

[bwannabnurse02]

This is odd. I mean everyone knows bowel movements are “poop.” I think it’s a bit excessive for them to write you up, but now you know in the future. 

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I hope that one day, I too, will have come to the illustrious point in my career where I can write a nurse up for using the word poop in a note.

 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

OK, this really is a funny thread. And we are all burnt. But still. If you write “poop” in medlegal documentation in any other way than quoting a child who uses it, you do, in fact, look unserious and therefore unprofessional. Were I reviewing this chart for some reason I wouldn’t be impressed.

I don’t think it’s worth more attention than a raised eyebrow and a ”Really?” from a manager, though. 

[zoidberg, BSN, RN]

not as bad as the less correct alternative to purulent either ?

[BeatsPerMinute, BSN, RN]

On 12/30/2021 at 11:42 AM, macawake said:

Well, did you at least chart large, hard ”poop”?
 

The DON actually printed your note so they could show it to you instead of simply reminding you to use standardized medical/nursing terms when charting. Yeah, your DON sounds rather anal.. One might call them a rather crappy boss.. 

Gee… I wonder why ?

agree.

this is quite extreme and petty.

I would just advise not using the term again and (for your own benefit) learn better ways of saying / charting things and sticking to med terms like advised in the quoted post above. because if you don't you'll just be accused of not listening to your leaders and being unprofessional or whatever else they come up with to blame you for 

[quickkarma, BSN]

I remembered another: in mid 2020-at the heart of xxxx-show, I charted that a pt's sp cath output looked like a Tequila Sunrise in a bag. No one said anything to me. Chart what you see; chart what you hear. At least you didn't say, nasty, disgusting, poop. 

[MunoRN, RN]

"Poop" certainly isn't the ideal word to use in the chart, but between "Bowel Movement", and "Poop", the word "poop" is arguably more professional.

Above all, charting that is professional should be clear and accurately convey the intended information, terms that have multiple meanings fail to do this.  This is the primary requirement, decorum is secondary.

The term "bowel movement" means exactly as it sounds, the bowels have moved.  The product of a bowel movement might be stool, but it may also be flatus, or nothing at all might exit the rectum even though a bowel movement occurred.

Through broad misuse of the term "bowel movement" to refer to the actual solid product of a bowel movement that has exited the body it's now an accepted secondary meaning, but that still leaves the term non-specific as compared to terms that convey the patient actually excreted stool.

[Ashlee59]

Your supervisor is justified in writing you up. You know better than to document that way. Your profile says 18 years of experience.  That was very unprofessional of you

[quickkarma, BSN]

 ?After 18 years of experience, she has earned the right to use the word poop on Christmas Eve!? "Oh poop, I'm working another holiday away from my family." Like another said, if this manager has the time to write her up for this, the rest of the unit must be running like clockwork.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

I think it was a very elegant  word instead of feces,fecal,turd,Caca,caki,mohon,scata,merde,but ..since it WAS Christmas, then Brown candy cane would have sufficed.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

15 minutes ago, Ashlee59 said:

Your supervisor is justified in writing you up. You know better than to document that way. Your profile says 18 years of experience.  That was very unprofessional of you

No supervisor is ever "justified" in using the "write up" as a torment tool for such a thing.Save it for important things like forgery,drug use,or WUI(working under the influence).