BED BATHING

REQUIREMENTS #

1. A trolley containing the following:
   1. Top Shelf
      • Two basins or bowls
      • Sponge
      • Soap in a dish
      • Towel
      • Pomade
      • Bath thermometer
   2. Bottom shelf
      • Two jugs of water (hot and cold)
      • Bucket or bowel for used water
      • Receptacle for soiled linen
      • Long mackintosh
      • Bath blanket or sheet
      • Clean bedsheet or linen
      • Patient’s clothing
      • Bed pan or urinal

STEPS #

1. Establish rapport with patient (Refer to steps)
2. Explain the procedure to the patient and provide privacy
3. Perform hand hygiene
4. Prepare and take trolley to bedside
5. Offer bedpan or urinal if required
6. Loosen and remove top bed clothes and arranges on a chair/bed table
7. Remove patient’s clothes and cover him/her with a bed linen
8. Protect bed and pillow with long mackintosh and a bath towel/blanket
9. Maintain individuality of patients by asking him/her if he/she would like soap on the face, temperature of water or if he/she will like to clean the genitalia himself/herself
10. Wash, rinse and dry patient’s face beginning from the inner to the outer canthus of each eye
11. Wash, rinse and dry the rest of the face, ears and neck
12. Wash, rinse and dry patient’s arm farther away from the nurse
13. Wash, rinse and dry patient’s arm near to the nurse
14. Wash, rinse and dry the chest and abdomen paying attention to the skin folds
15. Wash, rinse and dry the legs in the same way as the arms
16. Turn patient on his/her sides and wash, rinse and dry the back
17. Examine and treat pressure areas
18. Turn patient on his/her side, remove long mackintosh and change bottom linen
19. Clean patient’s genitalia (performs vulva toileting if a female)
20. Groom and dress patient in clean clothes
21. Make bed and reposition patient
22. Dispose off used items and decontaminate trolley and used linen
23. Perform hand hygiene
24. Document procedure and report findings (manual or electronic)