Do nursing staff not wash patients anymore or change sheets?

[keepswimming38]

My daughter has been admitted to hospital with meningitis. She’s on an infectious diseases ward. I’ve been by her side most of the day for 3 days and despite her not being able to move as she is so weak, not one nurse has asked her if she wants to freshen up, have a wash, change her sheets. I’ve done it for her. Is this usual? The nurses are sat next to their little computer trolleys, or chatting at nurses station, so not all run off their feet I would say.

do they assume you will help with her personal care? The HCA should change the sheets though

From what I have seen nursing went to pot when they made it a degree course. Nurses don't want to 'nurse' anymore. they want to be managers.

However, I'm sure they have HCAs (Health Care Assistants) that do those sort of tasks.

If you are not happy you could always contact PALs for advice.

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/

My only time in hospital was my post natal experience. I had bloody sheets and wasn’t offered a change until about 3 hours before I left. The entire staff seemed really busy.

How old is she? If a young children’s ward it’s likely there will be a bath somewhere on the ward. You’ll be expected to help her as you’re there, so just ask to use the bathroom for her, ask for towels etc. no shower you’ve seen? Have you asked for a bowl and flannels?
come on!

Why would you expect them to wash her when you’re there? I truly don’t get it?
ask for bedsheets for gods sake.

Because it’s something nurses and hca have always traditionally done and to me it looks like this important aspect of nursing care has declined. It was always a key time to look for skin integrity and signs of sores or dvt.

My dad was in ITU for 4 weeks last year. He was washed every day, teeth cleaned, hair combed, and when the ventilator and tubes were removed from his face, given a shave too! He was completely bed bound though, i just assumed this was normal as mum and I wouldn't have been able to do it. He would have got very sore and probably more ill if he wasn't physically washed.

@keepswimming38 how old is your daughter?

She’s 20

my DS had meningitis last year and the HCAs changed his sheets but I freshened him up.

meningitis is really dreadful. I'm sorry, I hope your daughter feels better soon.

I was in hospital for 10 days before Christmas and they changed my sheets every day! They also helped me to wash. Hopingyour daughter recovers soon @keepswimming38

At 20 is she able to advocate for herself and ask? Is she bed bound?

Sadly those days are gone and Nurses now see a nursing qualification as a step on a ladder to a hospital admin job.

Not in my experience no and it’s truly awful. They don’t seem to care about basic hygiene at all - no offers to change sheets, freshen up washes and when my nan was in my dad had to brush her teeth for her every day as the nurses wouldn’t do that either.

I’m a nurse. I will wash patients and change their bedding.
If they are not doing it ask them when they will.

No interest in being a manager!

She can barely speak@NewYearNewMee.

Glad to hear that some nurses still have a genuine vocation !

@NewYearNewMeeand yes she is bedbound

@keepswimming38in that case in your shoes I’d be asking for them to do it, rather than waiting for them to offer! When I was in recently I had to ask for sheet changes to be more often, they weren’t doing it daily for most people. Definitely ask if they’re able to do personal care too or have facilities for you to help do it?

She is unwell with meningitis , why are you asking if she can advocate for herself. Think how bad you feel when you have the flu, I should think it's probably worse than that

At 20 is she able to advocate for herself and ask?

She should't have to, nor should her mum! She should be looked after by those who are paid to do so.

When I've been in it's normally the HCAs who change the beds and wash the patients needing help. The sheets are changed every morning.

Just ask for the bed to be changed and ask if she can have some help to have a wash. It's not great practice admittedly, but I wouldn't be worried about skin integrity on an otherwise healthy 20year old and they would have risk assessed her for dvt on admission.
I work in emergency care now but when I was on the ward we always changed the beds and offered to support personal care (paeds) @greengagejamandcrumpets nurses having a degree has been shown to have better outcomes and safer for patients, most nurses I know have no desire to become management or admin, most want to stay clinical

Not acceptable i spend a lot of time in hospital and hca change bedding everyday and bring bowls of water round for washing every morning for people who are unable to shower themselves. Its worth a chat with them as it might be they have offered and your dd has refused as this stuff is usually done about 6am

@Ellaelle because after being in hospital recently I found I had to ask for care / get my family members to request it, so I was just asking if her condition meant she wasn’t able to ask for help herself, and perhaps her family members needed to step in.