Maintenance of personal hygiene is necessary for an individual’s comfort, safety, and sense of well being.
Bathing Guidelines
- Cleanliness cannot be on a time clock.
- Client preference and need
- Opportunity to assess, teach, exercise
- Gloves
- Client participation
- Oral care
- Cultural differences
Type of Baths
- Complete Bed Bath
- Partial Bed Bath : hands, face, back, axilla, perineum
- Tub Bath
- Shower
- Therapeutic Bath : Sitz, Medicated
Equipment
- 2 wash clothes
- 2 towels
- Bath blanket
- Soap
- Toiletry items ( scent- free policy)
- Basin
- PJ’s
- Gloves
- Laundry bag
- Assess ability to perform self- care & determine type of bath
- Bedpan? Urinal?
Bath Procedure
- Client Position
- Body mechanics
- Loosen and remove top covers
- Bath blanket
- Undress
- Pay attention if client has a deficit on left or right side, ie. paralysis, IV., Pain etc.
- Undress unaffected side first
- Dress affected side first
- Safety, assess need for side rails if need to step away from the bedside
- Basin with warm water
- Test inner aspect of wrist
- Remove pillow
- HOB 30 – 45 ยบ
- Wash cloth mitt
- Eyes, H2O,
- Inner to outer canthus
- Different section of each mitt for each eye
- Face, neck, and ears…..soap? Rinse and dry well.
- Bath farthest hand and arms first.
- Use long, firm strokes
- Distal to proximal including axilla
- Rinse and dry
- Deodorant
- Other arm
- Keep water at a warm temperature
- Cover chest with bath towel
- Wash, attention to skin folds
- Rinse and dry well
- Abdomen- stroke side to side
- Wash, rinse, dry
- Client comfort and warmth
- Can partially dress at this point
- Continue by placing towel under leg, wash
- From distal to proximal, ( except DVT)
- Check H2O
- Do Not Massage any Reddened Areas on skin
- Back and buttocks – back rub
- Change H2O
- Cleanse perineum
- Foot soak
- Nail trim if not contraindicated
- If circulatory problems, diabetes Do Not Cut Nails
Oral Care
- Time to assess the oral cavity
- AC and PC
- NPO
- 4x/day
- Keep mouth clean and moist
- Dentures
- Be Careful
- Unconscious client
- Side lying
- Facing care giver
- Bed flat
- Towel under chin
- Brush or toothette
- Avoid stimulating gag reflex, assess need for suction
- Pay Attention to :
- Hair
- Aids, visual and hearing
- Shave
- Foot and nail care
Source :
NurseReview.Org
