WASHING OF PATIENT’S HAIR IN BED

REQUIREMENTS #

A trolley containing the following:

1. Top shelf
   • Bowl
   • Two bath towel
   • Face towel
   • Cotton wool swabs in a gallipot
   • Shampoo and conditioner
   • Hair comb
   • Kidney dish
   • Hair pins where necessary
   • Hair pomade
2. Bottom shelf
   • Two jugs containing hot and cold water
   • Long mackintosh and a bath blanket/big towel/linen
   • Clean linen if required
   • Hairdryer if available
   • Bucket for used water

STEPS #

1. Establish rapport (Refer to steps)
2. Explain procedure to patient (Refer to steps)
3. Provide privacy
4. Perform hand hygiene, prepare and send trolley to bedside
5. Assist patient into a fowler’s position or lie flat in with the head extended to the edge of the bed (if condition permits)
6. Arrange long mackintosh and a bath blanket/big towel/linen into a trough, fashioned under the patient’s shoulders, neck, head and extend it down into a bucket
7. Cover mackintosh with a bath towel under the patient’s neck and around the shoulders
8. Remove hair accessories, comb and remove tangles
9. Pluck the ear with cotton wool balls
10. Mix the water to the patient’s preferred temperature
11. Wet hair and apply soap/shampoo
12. Massage hair well, rinse and repeat till the hair is clean (a woman require more rinse water than a man)
13. Wipe any moisture around eye, face and neck
14. Squeeze hair gently and tie hair up in a towel
15. Remove long mackintosh and a bath blanket/big towel/linen
16. Assist patient into a sitting up position
17. Dry thoroughly with a towel and a hand dryer
18. Apply pomade, comb and style hair to patient’s liking
19. Change linen if wet
20. Put patient in a desirable position
21. Dispose off used items and decontaminate trolley
22. Perform hand hygiene
23. Document procedure in nurses’ notes (manual or electronic) and report findings to appropriate officer