The most work he did on {the urinals} was to run a brush once or twice apiece, singing some song as loud as he could in time to the swishing brush; then he'd splash in some Clorox and he'd be through. ... And when the Big Nurse...came in to check McMurphy's cleaning assignment personally, she brought a little compact mirror and she held it under the rim of the bowls. She walked along shaking her head and saying, Why, this is an outrage... an outrage... at every bowl. McMurphy sidled right along beside her, winking down his nose and saying in answer, No; that's a toilet bowl...a TOILET bowl.
In "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," McMurphy's approach to cleaning the urinals is marked by a carefree attitude. He merely brushes them a couple of times while singing loudly and adds some bleach before considering his task complete. This laid-back mentality contrasts sharply with the expectations of the strict Big Nurse, who inspects his work with a critical eye, using a compact mirror to assess the cleanliness of the urinals.
As she examines each bowl, she expresses dismay, insisting that the state of the urinals is unacceptable. McMurphy, however, responds humorously, pointing out that they are indeed toilet bowls and not expected to be pristine. This interaction highlights the clash between McMurphy's rebellious spirit and the rigid enforcement of rules within the institution, showcasing the theme of authority versus individuality.