Urine and Feces and Bed-Baths

If you are considering becoming an RN and you can't handle the smell of feces.  You may want to consider another line of work.

As a student you will absolutely be cleaning up feces and urine.  And maybe even changing feminine pads.  

I'm here to debunk the myth that these tasks are solely the PCT's job.  

That nurses don't have to wipe people's bottoms.  

They do from time to time! 

And it can be messy.  You can find patients lying in a puddle of runny feces if their bowel movements are loose enough.  

I have classmates that are leaning way more towards working in OB/GYN and Peds  because the smell of adult feces bothers them.

The patient care technician or PCT is primarily responsible for cleaning soiled patients, changing their linens, and giving them bedbaths.

In an ideal world the PCTs will do all of these tasks all the time, but in reality you will find yourself helping them or sometimes doing it yourself.  A part of being a good RN is helping the PCT when things are busy.  A part of dealing with a bad PCT is doing more than what you should to cover for them.  A part of being a bad RN is ducking helping the PCT with cleaning tasks.  You should ideally work together as a team.  

When you get to MedSurg clinicals, make sure to learn how to clean incontinent patients, give bed-baths, and change their linens.  Offer to help PCTs now and again so you can get these skills down.  

Patients that are in a vegetative state are the best individuals to practice on!!!

As an RN you will have to help patients on and off of bed pans.  
http://viewingcorners.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/bedpan.gif

As an RN you will have to help patients onto and off of bedside commodes.
http://www.unique-medical.com/steel-drop-arm-bedside-commode-with-padded-seat-arms-11125pskd-1/?gclid=CPichcOAt7cCFY-e4AodtnwALA


Only lucky students get to insert foley catherters into patients.  But you will likely end up emptying them and measuring the quantity of urine.
http://www.medicalexhibits.com/medical_exhibits.php?exhibit=09087_02X&query=foley%20catheter%20placement%20female%20pelvis%20bladder%20urethra