Nurses - do you want hand cream and bubble bath and takeaways?

[Feedingthebirds1]

Sorry I know nurses have posted about this before. Someone I know is raising funds for exactly those things (and other bits) to recognise the sacrifices nurses have made and has set a high target they want to achieve.

From what I remember reading on here, nurses aren't desperate for those things and I'm reluctant to contribute until I've checked.

And is there anything else that would be better received/more useful? I'd rather give to that if there is. I've nothing against nurses, please don't get me wrong, it's just my recollection that actually they're not particularly wanted and I'd prefer to do something that is. Happy to be told I'm wrong if that's not the case.

Since they’re already on oxygen, the risk of a fire happening should be low because precautions are in place. And if the ward catches fire and they are on oxygen, Vaseline on their lips will be the least of their worries!

Are lipbalms without petroleum ok?

Toiletries for the patients are needed where I work. One of the local chemists has donated several bags of stuff already. Also pyjamas and nighties - we are having to do all the patient's washing as well and there's often not enough time in the day to get it washed and dried in time. Not every patient has a loving family nearby to help out.

Our local hospital has an Amazon wishlist and the items are labelled as needed for patients or staff so you know who is going to benefit. It ranges from colouring books for relaxing through to energy bars and drinks.

@Kroptopbelly

This is nice. First wave we got loads of lovely stuff, this time we buy our own and share it with each other. Some of my colleagues bake for their shifts too.

We showered before leaving work so we reduced the risk of taking the virus home with us.
Now as we have no shower gels or shampoos we don’t.
It’s straight up to the shower when we get home.
But creams are good for extremely sore, dry hands and faces from the masks.

But. What would be better, would be lovely shower gels, dry shampoos, deodorant lip balms for our patients.
Because they are rushed in with absolutely nothing.
No visitors allowed, family members have COVID usually if they live together so can’t leave the house or are too unwell so can’t bring anything in for them.
I had a lady sobbing on me yesterday because she was gasping for breath with that hot mask strapped to her face blasting out oxygen, cracked bleeding lips, only her mobile phone with her, desperately worried about her husband and grown up kids at her home with Covid, terrified that she is dying and I couldn’t find anything to put on her lips.
One of the nurses came back after her shift with a new lip balm for the lady that she brought in from her home.
The need is greater there.
Thank you.

Not a nurse but healthcare professional. Agree with this just with the nudge that lip balms need to be petroleum free as you can’t use ones with petroleum based products with oxygen. It says on the ingredients list.

A think a lot of people need to redo their oxygen competency to be honest. You should not be using products such as Vaseline on a patient that requires oxygen.

But back to the original point, a hamper sounds lovely. Don't put in masks as we have to use hospital provided ones. Hand creams, face masks, nice teas, hot chocolate, coffee, bubble baths, black pens, bath bombs are all lovely. But most of all a card or a letter to give positive feedback.

@Frogartist

Are lipbalms without petroleum ok?

They are and there are loads without petroleum such as Burt’s bees and other widely available ones.

It’s a lovely thought for our patients. Things like this make a big difference.

Foot masks are lovely. I got some from Superdrug.

So burts bees is ok? Need to swap my balms!

Hand creams are lovely. We have them in the vaccination centre I work in, but, I don't think I am getting the benefit of them as as soon as I have apply it I am washing it off again. A hand cream to take home would be good though. Where there are nurses there are always dry hands. I am not sure I have ever worked in a ward without a tube of hand cream lurking around the nurses station. I really second the suggestion of donations for patients though. Hospital supplies are very basic. I used to often take in bits and bobs for the ward cupboard from home. I imagine any supplies like that are much depleted due to covid.

We showered before leaving work so we reduced the risk of taking the virus home with us. Now as we have no shower gels or shampoos we don’t.

@Kroptopbelly I don't wish to be mean, but I very much doubt that the lack of a £1.80 bottle of shampoo (good for 30 washes) is what's preventing people showering. It's just lockdown fatigue.

Nurses and all healthcare workers have a tough job these days, and I'm more than happy to donate lip balm, hand cream etc. but let's not exaggerate, eh?

I wanted to have a shower the other day, the shower was absolutely full to the rim with stock piled ppe.

That's useful actually, I could ask on our local group if people would like to donate soap, cordial, lip balm etc for either staff or patients. It's a nice community group so think people would be interested but I'd have to check with the hospital first to see if this is ok.