Assisting With the Use of a Bedpan

Goal: The patient is able to void with assistance.

1. Review the patient’s chart for any limitations in physical activity. (See Skill Variation: Assisting With Use of a Bedpan When the Patient Has Limited Movement.)

2. Bring bedpan and other necessary equipment to the bedside stand or overbed table.

3. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.

4. Identify the patient.

5. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room, if possible. Discuss the procedure with the patient and assess the patient’s ability to assist with the procedure, as well as personal hygiene preferences.

6. Unless contraindicated, apply powder to the rim of the bedpan. Place bedpan and cover on chair next to bed. Put on gloves.

7. Adjust bed to comfortable working height, usually elbow height of the caregiver (VISN 8 Patient Safety Center, 2009). Place the patient in a supine position, with the head of the bed elevated about 30 degrees, unless contraindicated.

8. Fold top linen back just enough to allow placement of bedpan. If there is no waterproof pad on the bed and time allows, consider placing a waterproof pad under patient’s buttocks before placing bedpan.

9. Ask the patient to bend the knees. Have the patient lift his or her hips upward. Assist patient, if necessary, by placing your hand that is closest to the patient palm up, under the lower back, and assist with lifting. Slip the bedpan into place with other hand.

10. Ensure that bedpan is in proper position and patient’s buttocks are resting on the rounded shelf of the regular bedpan or the shallow rim of the fracture bedpan.

11. Raise head of bed as near to sitting position as tolerated, unless contraindicated. Cover the patient with bed linens.

12. Place call bell and toilet tissue within easy reach. Place the bed in the lowest position. Leave patient if it is safe to do so. Use side rails appropriately.

13. Remove gloves and additional PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.

Removing the Bedpan:
14. Perform hand hygiene and put on gloves and additional PPE, as indicated. Adjust bed to comfortable working height, usually elbow height of the caregiver (VISN 8
Patient Safety Center, 2009). Have a receptacle, such as plastic trash bag, handy for discarding tissue.

15. Lower the head of the bed, if necessary, to about 30 degrees. Remove bedpan in the same manner in which it was offered, being careful to hold it steady. Ask the patient to bend the knees and lift the buttocks up from the bedpan. Assist patient, if necessary, by placing your hand that is closest to the patient palm up, under the lower back, and assist with lifting. Place the bedpan on the bedside chair and cover it.

16. If patient needs assistance with hygiene, wrap tissue around the hand several times, and wipe patient clean, using one stroke from the pubic area toward the anal area. Discard tissue, and use more until patient is clean. Place patient on his or her side and spread buttocks to clean anal area.

17. Do not place toilet tissue in the bedpan if a specimen is required or if output is being recorded. Place toilet tissue in appropriate receptacle.

18. Return the patient to a comfortable position. Make sure the linens under the patient are dry. Replace or remove pad under the patient, as necessary. Remove your gloves and ensure that the patient is covered.

19. Raise side rail. Lower bed height and adjust head of bed to a comfortable position. Reattach call bell.

20. Offer patient supplies to wash and dry his or her hands, assisting as necessary.

21. Put on clean gloves. Empty and clean the bedpan, measuring urine in graduated container, as necessary. Discard trash receptacle with used toilet paper per facility policy.

22. Remove additional PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.