FOOT AND HAND CARE

Learning objectives:

At the end of lecture-discussion and demonstration, the students will be able to:

1. Assess the patient effectively to determine the need for assistance for foot and hand
care.
2. Analyze data to determine special needs, concerns, and self-care abilities in
completing foot and hand care.
3. Choose the appropriate procedure and equipment for foot and hand care.
4. Demonstrate the proper techniques for assisting with foot and hand care.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of foot and hand care.
6. Document the specific observations of any abnormal findings and the patient’s
comfort level.

Teaching learning method:

Lecture cum discussion

Demonstration

Definition:

It is the care given to the patient to remove dirt from hand feet and nail in order to
maintain personal hygiene.

General Principles:
⚫ Water is a good conductor of heat, so the heat may be converges to the skin by
the application of warm water.
⚫ Soap lowers the surface tension of water and helps to unite it quickly with the fat
and debris on the skin
Purposes:
⚫ To promote relaxation and comfort
⚫ To prevent infection
⚫ To induce sleep
⚫ To maintain cleanliness

Indication:
⚫ Unconscious patient
⚫ Preoperative
⚫ Post operative
⚫ Neuropathies
⚫ Impaired physical mobility
Required position:
⚫ Supine Position
⚫ Sitting position

Article with Rationale

Sr no Article Rationale
1 Towels To clean hand and feet
2 Jug-2 To take water; hot and cold
3 Mackintosh - 1 To protect the bed/linen.
4 Clean gloves To prevent infection
5 Soup with soup dish To clean hand and feet
6 Nail cutter To cut nail
7 Kidney tray and paper bag To collect waste
8 Nail brush To clean nails
9 Basin To dip the hands and feet in water
10 Lotion To prevent dryness

Step with rationale:

Sr no Steps Rationale

1 Wash hands before the procedure and To prevent infection.

don gloves.
The skin on the back of the hand is
2 Mix the hot and cold water in the
sensitive and helps in assessing the
basin and check the temperature.
temperature.
To gain the cooperation and confidence of
3 Explain the procedure to the patient.
the patient.
Place the mackintosh under the feet and
keep the basin over the mackintosh and
4 To avoid the soiling of the floor or table.
ask the patient to keep his feet inside
basin.
Allow the feet and hand to soak for This help in easy cleaning and cutting of
5
10-15 minutes. nails.
Clean the hand gently with soap
6 thoroughly. Clean the finger nails Helps in removing the dirt.
with nail brush.
Cut the finger nails in circular shape
7 Prevents injury to the patient and others.
and trim the ends.
 Wipe the hands using a towel and Wiping helps in drying of the hand and
8
apply lotion if needed. applying lotion prevents dryness.
Clean gently the feet and by using a scrub,
Scrubbing helps in removing the dry and
9 scrub the hand ends of the feet, apply soap
dead skin.
in circular motion.
Applying lotion helps in prevention of
10 Apply lotion to the feet.
dryness.

Assist the client back to the bed and

11 Comfortable position provides easiness.
provide comfortable position.

Remove gloves and Perform hand

12 To prevent cross infection.
hygiene.

Post procedural care:

⚫ Ask the patient for any discomfort.
⚫ Replace the patient’s personal belongings like ring, watch etc.
⚫ Make the patient comfortable.
Termination of article with Biomedical waste management

Sr Name of the Biomedical Waste

Termination of article
no Articles management

1 Towels Keep it in the laundry for washing. Not applicable

2 Soup and Soup dish Replace it.

Clean it under running water with soap.
3 Mackintosh - Hang it for the purpose of drying in the Not applicable
shaded area.
4 Gloves Discard. Red bag

5 Disinfectant Replace it to allotted place. Not applicable

Dip the nail cutter in savlon

Nail cutter Nail
6 solution(1:20) and clean with running Not applicable
Brush
water-Keep it in the allotted place.
Clean it under running water with
Kidney tray Jug
7 disinfectant Not applicable
Basin
-Keep it in the allotted place

Special Precaution:

⚫ Use gloves during the procedure.

⚫ Inspect the site, nail for an infection.
⚫ Do not injure the patient if he has neuropathies.
Documentation:
⚫ Document the procedure with date and time
⚫ Document if patient have any discomfort, pain, any cut, rash, abrasion, or
injury etc.
Further Reading:

1. Fundamental nursing skills. Edited by Penelope Ann Hilton. WHURR

PUBLISHERS LONDON AND PHILADELPHIA.
2. Sandra F. Smith, Donna J. Duell, Barbara C. Martin. Clinical Nursing skills:
Basic to Advanced Skills; 8th Edition.
3. Lisa Dougherty and Sara Lister. The Royal Marsden Manual of Clinical Nursing
Procedures; 9th Edition. Wiley Blackwell

4. Clement I. Textbook of Nursing Foundation. 2nd ed. The Health Sciences

Pubisher: JAPYEE;
 MCQS
S.N
Questions
o
Which of the following
special precaution is needed
while providing hand and foot
1 care?
Which of the following is
correct while providing
2 foot care for a client who is
a diabetic?
Post care of Nail cutter and
3
Nail brush involves?
Options
Use gloves during the procedure.
Inspect the site, nail for an infection.
Do not injured the patient if he have
neuropathies.
All of the above
Observe the feet daily for cracks, redness or
ulcers.
Ensuring client wears proper footware does
not add any value.
Socks can be changed alternative days.
Should cut corns.
Dip the nail cutter in savlon solution(1:20)
and clean with running water-Keep it in the
allotted place.
Dip the nail cutter in savlon solution(1:40) and
clean with running water-Keep it in the
allotted place.
Dip the nail cutter in Dettol solution(1:20) and
clean with running water-Keep it in the
allotted place.
Dip the nail cutter in Dettol solution(1:40) and
clean with running water-Keep it in the
allotted place.
 Check list – Hand and feet care
( Score 1 for each step performed in a right method: score 0 if not performed/ performed

wrong)

S.No
Steps Yes/No
.
1. Washes hands and donning gloves

2 Mixes the hot and cold water in the basin and checks
the temperature of the water

3 Explains the procedure to the patient

Places the mackintosh under the feet and keep the basin
4 over the mackintosh and ask the patient to keep his feet
inside basin.
5 Allows the feet and hand to soak for 10-15 minutes

6 Cleans the hand gently with soap thoroughly. Clean

the finger nails with nail brush

7 Cuts the finger nails in circular shape and trim the ends

Wipes the hands using a towel and apply lotion if

8 needed
Cleans gently the feet and by using a scrub, scrub the hand
9 ends of the feet, apply soap in circular motion

10 Applies lotion to the feet .

11 Assists the client back to the bed and provide comfortable

position

12 Removes gloves and Perform hand hygiene.

13 Replaces the articles

Total