Bed bath procedure

Equipment
• Trolley
• Bed protecting materials such as rubber sheet and towels
• Bath blanket (or use top linen)
• Two bath towels
• Wash cloth
• Clean pajamas or gown
• Additional bed linens
• Hamper for soiled cloths
• Basin with warm water (43-460c for adult and 38-400c for children)
• Soap on a soap dish
• Hygienic supplies, such as, lotion, powder or deodorants (if required)
• Screen
• Disposable gloves
• Lotion thermometer (if available)

Procedures
1. Prepare the patient unit
• Close windows and doors, use screen to provide privacy.

2. Prepare the patient and the bed
• Place the bed in high position to reduce undue strain on the nurse's back
• Remove pt's gown and pajamas
• Assist pt to move toward you so it facilitates access to reach pt without undue straining. Position the pt in supine, semi -Fowler’s or Fowler’s depending on the pt's condition.

Check the temperature of the water using lotion thermometer /back of the hand.

3. Make a bath with the washcloth, so it retains water and heat than a cloth loosely held

4. Washing body parts
• Expose only the parts of the patient's body being washed avoid unnecessary exposing.
• Wash, rinse and dry each body parts thoroughly using washing towels and paying particular attention to skin folds.
• Suggested order for washing body parts; Face, ear, neck

♦ Arms and hands further away from the nurse
♦ Chest
♦ Arms and hands nearest to the nurse
♦ Buttocks and genital area
♦ Change the water after it gets dirty
♦ If possible assist patient to wash own face, hands, feet and genital area by placing the basin on bed.

Assist the patient with grooming
• Apply powder lotion or deodorants (of pt uses)
• Help patient to care for hair, mouth and nails.

5. Recomfort the patient
• Change linen if soiled
• Arrange the bed
• Put pt in comfortable position
• Remove the screen

Give proper care of materials used for bathing
• Document and report pertinent data
• Observation of the skin condition
• General appearance or reaction of the pt
• Type of bath give
Report any abnormal findings to the nurse in charge