Republic of the Philippines

President Ramon Magsaysay State University

(Formerly Ramon Magsaysay Technological University)
Iba, Zambales, Philippines

COLLEGE OF NURSING

Tools of Public
Health Nurse
 BAG
TECHNIQUE
DEFINITION OF TERMS

BAG TECHNIQUE
 a tool making use of a public health bag through which
the public health nurse during his/ her home visit can
perform nursing procedures with ease; knowing he/she
has with them their materials, it saves time and energy
with the end view of rendering effective nursing care.

HOME VISIT
 a professional face to face contact made by a public
health nurse to the patient or the family to provide
health care activities.
PUBLIC HEALTH BAG
 an essential and indispensable equipment for the public
health nurse which he/ she has to carry along with his/
her during home visits.
PURPOSES
 To prevent carrying of infection from one patient to
another and from one place to another by keeping
bag and its contents as clean as possible.

 To demonstrate the principles of cleanliness to

patients and family members by using the bag in
orderly way.

 To carry out selected procedure, demonstrations,

teaching and follow up services for patients and
family members.
CHN BAG
 Serves as a first aid kit
 To work efficiently during nursing procedures
 To conserve time and energy
 To minimize or prevent the spread of infection
 To render effective nursing care to clients and/ or members
of the family during home visit

BAG TECHNIQUE
 To minimize if not to prevent the spread of infection
 To work efficiently during techniques
 For organization purposes

HOME VISITING
 It provides necessary health care activities
 Impart health teachings to the family for maintenance of
health
 To evaluate results of the outcomes of the nursing care
given
 To know the health status of an individual or a family
 PRINCIPLES
 The use of the bag technique should minimize if not
totally prevent the spread of infection from individuals to
families, hence, to the community.

 Bag technique should save time and effort on the part of

the nurse in the performance of nursing procedures.

 Bag technique should not overshadow concern for the

patient rather should show the effectiveness of total care
given to an individual or family.
CHN BAG
CONTENTS OF CHN BAG

FRONT OF THE BAG

 thermometer
 syringes and needles
 nail cutter
 nail brush

on the RIGHT SIDE

 test tube and test tube holder
 medicine dropper
 alcohol lamp, safety matches
on the LEFT SIDE
 baby weighing scale

BACK of the bag

 betadine
 70% alcohol
 hydrogen peroxide
 spirit of ammonia
 benedict’s solution
 ophthalmic ointment
on the CENTER OF THE BAG
 kidney basin
 kelly curve and Kelly straight
 umbilical scissors
 Bandages
 tape measure
 micropore plaster
 sterile os, cotton balls, cotton applicators
 hand towel
 soap dish and soap
 apron
on the TOP POCKET
 sterile gloves
 french 12 catheter
 french 8 catheter
 cord clamp
 paper waste bags
 plastic bags

TOP OF THE INNER COVER

 paper soap dish lining
 paper and plastic lining

 BP apparatus and stethoscope are carried separately and

are never placed in the bag.
 GUIDELINES IN USING THE CHN
BAG

 Perform handwashing as frequently as possible or if the

situation calls for help to minimize or avoid
contamination of bag and its contents.
 The CHN bag should contain all the necessary
equipment and supplies which may be used to answer
emergency needs.
 Contents of the bags should be protected from
contact of different unsterilized object.
 The arrangement of the contents of the bag should be
the most convenient to the users to facilitate
efficiency and so as to avoid confusion.
 Bag should be placed in a clean area.
 Avoid shaking or swaying the bag when carrying it.
 The bag should be thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected after using especially if there is a
communicable case in the area.
STEPS IN PERFORMING THE BAG
TECHNIQUE ACTIONS
1. Upon arrival at the patient’s home, place the bag
on the table or any flat surface lined with a clean
paper lining, clean side out (folded part out). The
clean side must be out and the folded part, touching
the table. Put the bag’s handles or strap beneath the
bag.

2. Ask for a basin of water or a glass of drinking water if

faucet is not available. Place these outside the work
area.

3. Open the bag and take the plastic lining and

spread over work field or area. The paper lining, clean
side out (folded part out).
4. Take out hand towel, soap dish and apron and
place them at one corner of the work area (within the
confines of plastic lining).

5. Do handwashing. Wipe, dry with towel. Leave the

plastic wrappers of the towel in a soap dish in the bag.

6. Put on apron right side out and wrong side touching

the body, sliding the head into the neck strap. Neatly
tie the straps at the back.

7. Put out things most needed for specific case and

place at one corner of the work area.
8. Place waste paper bag outside of work area.

9. Close the bag and put it in one corner of the

working area.

10. Proceed to the specific nursing care or treatment.

11. After completing the nursing care or treatment,

clean and alcoholize the things used.

12. Do handwashing again.

13. Open the bag and put back all articles in their
proper places.
14. Remove apron folding away from the body, with
soiled side folded inwards, and the clean side out.
Place it in the bag.

15. Fold the plastic lining, clean, place it in the bag

and close the bag.

16. Make post-visit conference on matters relevant t

health care, taking anecdotal notes preparatory to
final reporting.

17. Make appointment for the next visit, taking note of

the date, time and purpose.
AFTER CARE
 Before keeping all articles in the bag, clean and
alcoholize them.
 Get the bag from the table, fold the paper lining
(and insert), and place in between the flaps and
cover the bag.

EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION

 Record all relevant findings about the client and
members of the family.
 Include quality of nurse-patient relationship.
 Assess effectiveness of nursing care provided.
CARE OF THE BAG
 Clean the bag daily. Protect from excessive hat or
rain to reserve it in a good condition.
 Empty all the contents, wash the bag with soap and
water more frequently depending on how much it
has been used and dry it into the sun.
 Wash the non-expendable articles such as
instruments with soap and water and boil them.
 Check gloves, catheters, thermometer and glass
articles. Replace it if broken.
 Repack the bag in an orderly way; keep articles in
their usual places to make them easily traceable.