Bag technique

a tool making use of a public health bag through which the nurse during his home visit,
can perform nursing procedures with ease, saving time and effort with the end view of
rendering effective nursing care.
Rationale:
To render effective nursing care to clients and/or members of the family during home
visit.
Principles of Bag Technique
1. Performing the bag technique will minimize if not prevent the spread of any infection
2. It saves time and effort in the performance of nursing procedures
3. The bag technique should show the effectiveness of total care given to an individual or
family
4. The bag technique can be performed in a variety of ways depending on the Agency’s
policy, the home situation or as long as principles of avoiding transfer of infection is
always observed
Important points to consider in Bag Technique

1. The bag should contain all the necessary articles, supplies and equipment that will be
used to answer emergency needs
2. The bag and its contents should be cleaned very often, the supplies replaced and ready
for use anytime.
3. The bag and its contents should be well protected from contact with any article in
patient’s home. Consider the bag and its content clean and sterile, while articles that
belong to the patients as dirty and contaminated
4. The arrangement of the contents of the bag should be the one most convenient to the
user, to facilitate efficiency and avoid confusion
Bag Technique

Performance Rationale
Upon arrival at the client’s home , places the To protect the bag from being contaminated
bag on the table or any flat surface lined with
paper lining, clean side out.
Puts bag’s handles or strap beneath the bag
Asks for a basin of water, if faucet not For hand washing
available.
If no water, a personal hand sanitizer may be
used.
Places the basin or a glass of water outside the
work area
Opens the bag, take the linen/plastic lining To prepare for hand washing
and spread over work field or area. The paper
lining, clean side out
Take out hand towel, soap dish and apron and
places them at one corner of the work area
Does hand washing, wipes, dries with towel, To prevent cross contamination
and leaves plastic wrappers of the towel in
soap dish in the bag
Puts on apron, right side out and wrong side To protect nurse’s uniform
with crease touching the body, sliding the
head into the neck strap. Neatly ties the straps
at the back
Put out the things most needed for the To have them readily available
specific case
Places at one corner of the work area

Place the waste bag outside work area

Closes the bag To prevent contamination
Proceeds to the specific nursing care or To give comfort and security
treatment To hasten recovery
After completing nursing care or treatment,
cleanses and disinfect the things used
Does hand washing again
Opens the bag and put back all articles in their
proper places
Removes apron, folding away from the body
with soiled side folded inwards, and cleans
side out
Places it in the bag
Folds the linen/plastic lining, cleans; places it
in the bag and closes the bag
Makes post visit conference on matters For reference in the next visit
relevant to health care, taking anecdotal notes
preparatory to final reporting
Makes appointment for the next visit (either For follow up care
home or clinic), taking note of the date, time
and purpose
Ask for any clarification or any question that
the family may have before leaving their
home.

Wound Cleaning

 Definition:
 It includes cleansing and debridement, application of topical or subeschar
antimicrobial agents, and dressing.
 Purposes:
 To prevent infection
 To prevent further damage of fragile healing wounds
 To cleanse wounds of foreign debris
 To provide a means of absorbing inflammatory exudates and to promote drainage
 To prevent hemorrhage
 To prevent skin excoriation around draining wounds
 To cover an area of disfigurement

Special considerations to wound care

 Assess the location and degree of pain
 Assess for presence of generalized symptoms of infection
 Review medical history and identify factors that may contribute to wound healing (poor
nutritional status, age, DM)
 Assess client’s ability to cooperate during procedure. Ask for assistance if necessary.
 Note client’s allergies to tape or dressing materials