BED BATH

A bed bath cleans the skin and helps keep the skin free of infection. It helps to relax the person being
bathed and help him feel better. Let the person wash himself as much as possible. You may only need
to get the bath supplies ready and wash the person’s back.
Definition:
Bed bath means bathing a patient who is confined to bed and cannot have the physical and mental
capability of self bathing.
Bath is the act of cleaning the body. Baths are given for therapeutic purposes.
Purposes:
 Bathing is an important part of personal hygiene.
 Bathing cleans the skin and makes the patient feel more comfortable.
 It stimulates the circulation and relaxes the patient.
 It is a good opportunity to serve and observe the client body and as well as communicate with
the patient.
 To cleanse body of dirt, debris and perspiration.
 To refresh.
 To enhance self-concept.
 To provide tactile stimulation.
 To facilitate head to be assessment.
 To regulate body temperature.
 To induce sleep.
 To prevent pressure sore.
 To remove toxic substances from body surfaces.
 To maintain an effective nurse patient relationship.
 To give health instructions to the patient.
 To remove unpleasant odours due to perspiration.
 To relieve fatigue.
 To provide active and passive exercises.
Types of bed bath:
 Complete bed bath.
 Partial bed bath.
 Sponge bath at the sink.
 Tub bath.
 Shower.
Complete bed bath: Bath administered to totally dependent patient in bed.
Partial bed bath: Bed bath that consists of bathing only body parts that would cause discomfort.
Partial bath may also include washing back and providing back rub. Provide a partial bath to
dependent patients in need of partial hygiene or self sufficient bed ridden patient who is unable to
reach all body parts.
Sponge bath at the sink: Involves bathing from a bath basin or sink with patient sitting in the chair,
patient is able to perform part of the bath independently.
Tub bath: Involves immersion in a tub of water that allows more thorough washing and rinsing than
a bed bath. Commonly used in long term care.
Shower: Patient sits or stands under a continuous stream of water. The shower provides more
thorough cleaning than a bed bath but can cause fatigue.
Equipment used in bed bath procedure:
 Trolley for placing article.
 Basin for taking water.
 Jugs with hot and cold water.
 Mackintosh to avoid soiling of patient’s clothes and bed.
 Sheets and draw sheet.
 Soap for cleaning body of patient in bowl.
 Clean gloves.
 Powder or oil to avoid dryness.
 Cotton scrubs with normal saline.
 Towel to dry the patient.
 Dress if client.
 Kidney tray.
 Paper bag.
 Articles of cathefer care, if cathefer insites.
 Nail cutter.
 Scissors.
 Paper gloves.
 Comb.
 Bed pan.
General instructions before bed bath:
 Explain what you are about to do, even if the patient is unconscious.
 Clear the areas of any obstacles, so that you can move around freely.
 Ensure the ward is warm.
 Have all the equipment to hand, so that you do not have to leave the patient during the
procedure.
 The use of toiletries such as, deodorants, cosmetics and perfume should be determined by the
patient.
 Maintain privacy of the client by means of screens, curtains or drapes.
 Wash hands before and after the procedure.
 Conserve the energy of the client by avoiding unnecessary exertions.
 Remove the soap completely to avoid the drying effects of soap residue left on the client’s
skin.
 Only small area of the body should be exposed and bathed at a time.
 Each stroke should be smooth and long rather than short and jerky.
 Support should be given to the joints in lifting the arms and legs while washing and drying
these areas.
 Cut short the nails, if they are long.
 Cleaning is done from the cleanest area to the less clean area.
 The temperature for the sponge bath should be 1100F to 1150F.
 Use soaps which contains less alkali.
 The nurse should maintain good posture and balance of the body.
Procedure:
 Explain the procedure to the patient.
 Collect the articles and take the bed side.
 Provide privacy.
 Switch off the fan.
 Place the patient in comfortable position.
 Give mouth care if needed.
 Wash hands and put on gloves.
 Gather necessary equipment.
 Explain what you are going to do.
 Offer bed pan/urinal then empty it, clean it and put it away.
 Remove gloves and discard in appropriate container wash hands put on clean gloves.
 Place client in supine position near the side of the bed nearest you.
 Un-tuck the bed lines.
 Remove bed spread and blanket fold and place on chair if refusing, otherwise place in laundry
basket.
 Cover top sheet with a large towel. Ask the client to hold the towel in place.
 Remove the top sheet without disturbing the towel and place in laundry basket at bed side.
 Remove client’s gown or pyjamas.
 Fill bath basin 2/3 full of warm water.
 Place a towel across the client’s chest.
 Wer wash cloth and squeeze out excess water make a wash cloth mitt.
 First smoke on both eye lids simultaneously and after that clean eye lids with wet swabs.
 Wer bath towel of mitter and squeeze water from it.
 If patient prefer soap then apply soap with second mitter and rinse with the first mitter.
 Wash, rinse and dry patient’s face, neck and ears.
 Clean arms and hands.
 Place bath towel under farthest arm and clean it first.
 Wash, apply soap, rinse and dry arms using long circular strokes from distal to proximal
areas.
 Dry this part with second bath towel. Do not rub.
 Wash axilla well.
 Repeat entire procedure for other arm.
 Clean chest and abdomen with water.
 Place towel over the chest and abdomen and fold bath sheet.
 Wash, rinse and dry chest and abdomen.
 Keep chest and abdomen covered all along and use long strokes to wash the area.
 If patient is female, then clean chest and abdomen separately.
 Change water as required.
 Clean back of patient.
 Turn patients side lying position to prone position and expose back.
 Place towel along with back of patient.
 Wash, rinse and dry using firm strokes from neck to buttocks.
 Give back massage.
 Change if the water is dirty.
 Turn patient to supine position.
 Wash legs.
 Place the towel under farthest leg.
 Use long strokes to wash from distal to proximal from ankle to knee to thigh.
 Wash, rinse and dry the extremity.
 Fold towel and place beneath foot of the patient. Dry the feet.
 Discard the water.
 Let the patient to clean perineal area with mitter.
 Provide comfortable position to client.
  Give back rub using warmed lotion.
 Turn client to back place, clean towel under buttocks.
 It the client is unable, wash perineal area from front to back.
 Place dirty lines in appropriate container.
 Remove and dispose of gloves wash hands.
 Apply warmed lotion and deodorant as needed.
 Put clean clothing on client without exposing him/her.
 Remove, clean and store equipment.
 Wash your hands.
 Make the client comfortable.
 Record observations and report anything unusual to nurse.
Recording

Date Time Diet Treatment and Nurses notes

medications

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edition, page no.: 318-321.
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