ILOILO DOCTORS’ COLLEGE

COLLEGE OF NURSING
West Avenue, Molo, Iloilo City
5000 Philippines

CLEANSING BED BATH

DEFINITION: Bathing client while on bed.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
1. To stimulate circulation in order to:
a. Increase functioning of the skin.
b. Promote muscular relaxation.
c. To relieve muscular fatigue.
2. To clean skin and refresh the patient.
3. To observe unusual signs and symptoms.

EQUIPMENTS AND SUPPLIES:

 Two bath towels
 Two washcloths
 2 washbasin (for complete or partial bed bath)
 Soap and soap dish
 Bath blanket or top spread
 Clean gown or pajamas
 Hygenic acids, such as skin lotion, deodorant or powder
 Pitchers with warm water
 Bed pan or urinal and toilet paper
 Linen hamper or laundry bag
 Disposable gloves
 Bed linen (optional)
 Table protector
 Comb

STEPS
1. Assemble all equipments at bed side.
2. Assess the client’s preferences for bathng
practices, frequency of bathing, preferred time
and day, type of hygenic products used.
3. Consider client’s condition and review order of
precautions concerning client’s movement on
positioning.
4. Explain procedure to client. If partial bath is to
be performed, ask how much bath client wishes
to complete.
5. Adjust room temperature and ventilation, and
close room doors and windows. Close curtains
around bed.
6. Offer client bedpan or urinal. Provide towel
and wash cloth for client.
7. Wash hands. (Optional) Apply gloves
according to institutional policy.
8. Pull side rails up. Fill wash basin two thirds
full, with water 43-46 C (110-115 F) Dip client’s
fingers in water to test temperature tolerance.
9. Bring client toward side closer to you.
10. Remove pillow if allowed and raise head of
bed 3-45 degrees. Place bath towel under
client’s head.
11. Loosen top covers at foot of bed. Place bath
blanket over top sheet. Fold and remove top
sheet from under blanket. If possible, have client
hold bath blanket while you withdraw the sheet.
12. If top sheet is to be reused, fold it and place
RATIONALE
Promotes participation and sense of comfort.
Prevents accidental injury to client during
bathing activities.
Promotes client cooperation and participation.
Prevents rapid loss of heat during bathing.
Ensure privacy.
Client will feel more comfortable after voiding,
prevents interruption of bath.
Reduces transmission of microorganisms.
Raising side ails maintain safety as you leave
the bedside. Warm water promotes and revents
chilling. Testing temperature prevents accidental
burning of client’s skin.
This facilitates access without undue reaching
and straining.
Removal of pillow make it easier to wash client’s
ears and necks. Placement of towel prevents
soiling of bed linen.
Removal of top linens prevents them from
becoming soiled or moist during bath. Blanket
provides warmth and privacy.
Proper disposal prevents transmission of
 ILOILO DOCTORS’ COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF NURSING
West Avenue, Molo, Iloilo City
5000
on the back of the chair. If not, dispose in
laundry bag; don’t allow linen to come in contact
with your uniform.
13. Remove client’s gown or pajamas while
maintaining privacy. If extremity is injured or has
reduced mobility, removal starts from unaffected
side. If client has intravenous (IV) tube, remove
gown from arm without IV first.
14. Place the bath towel over client’s chest
under the chin.
15. Immerse washcloth in water and wring
thoroughly. Fold washcloth around fingers of
your hand to mitt.
16. Wash the client’s eyes with plain warm
water. Use different section of mitt for each eye.
Move mitt from inner to outer canthus. Soak
encrustation on eyelids for 2-3 minutes with
damp cloth before attempting removal. Fry
thoroughly but gently
17. Ask client about reference for using soap on
face. Wash rinse forehead, cheeks, nose, neck
and ears. Dry well.
18. Remove bath blanket over client’s arm that is
farthest from you. Place bath towel lengthwise
under arm.
19. Lower side rails if moved to opposite side.
Bath arm with soap and water using long, firm
strokes from distal to proximal (finger to axilla).
raise and support arm above (if possible) while
thoroughly washing axilla.
20. Rinse and dry arm and axilla thoroughly. If
client prefers, deodorant or talcum powder.
21. Fold bath towel in half and lay it on bed
beside client. Place basin on towel. Immerse
client’s hand in water. Option: allow hand to
soak for 3-5 minutes before washing hand and
fingernails. Remove basin and dry hand well.
22. Repeat 18-21 for the other arm.
23. Check temperature of bath water change if
necessary.
24. Cover client’s chest with bath towel and fold
blanket down to umbilicus.
25. With one hand, lift edge of towel away from
the chest. With mitted hand, bathe chest using
long firm strokes. Take special care to wash
skinfolds under female client’s breast, lifting
breasts if necessary. Keep chest, covered
between wash and rinse periods. Dry well.
26. Place bath towel lengthwise over chest and
abdomen. (tow towels may be needed) Fold
blanket down to just above pubic region.
27. With one hand, lift bath towel. With mitted
hand, bathe abdomen, giving special attention to
umbilicus and abdominal folds. Stroke from side
to side. Keep abdomen covered between
washing and rinsing. Dry well.
28. Cover chest and abdomen with top bath
blanket.
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microorganism.
Provides full exposure of body parts during
bathing. Undressing unaffected side first allow
easier manipulation of gown over body part with
reduced ROM.
Prevents soiling of bath blanket.
Mitt retains water and heat better than loosely
held washcloth, keeps cold edges from brushing
against client, and prevents splashing.
Soap irritates eyes. Use of different section of
mitts reduces infection transmission. Bathing
eye from inner to outer canthus prevents
secretion from entering nasolacrimal duct.
Pressure can cause internal injury.
Soap tends to dry face more quickly because it
is exposed to air more than any other body
parts.
Bathing far side first prevents reaching over
clean area.
Soap lowers surface tension and facilitates
removal debris and bacteria when friction is
applied during washing. Long firm strokes
stimulate circulation. Movement of arm exposes
axilla and exercise joint normal ROM distal to
proximal to increase venous return to the heart.
Excess moisture causes skin maceration or
softening. Deodorant controls body odor.
Soaking soften cuticles and calluses of hand and
loosens debris beneath nails. Soaking also
enhances feeling of cleanliness. Thorough
drying removes moisture from between fingers.
Use of warm water maintains client’s comfort.
Prevents unnecessary exposure of body parts.
Maintains warmth and privacy. Secretions and
dirt collect easily in areas of tight skinfolds.
Prevent chilling and exposure of body parts.
Moisture and sediments that collect in skinfolds
predispose client to skin maceration and
irritation.
Prevents unnecessary exposure.
 ILOILO DOCTORS’ COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF NURSING
West Avenue, Molo, Iloilo City
5000
29. Expose far leg by folding blanket over toward
midline. Be sure perineum is draped.
30. Bend knee by positioning your arm under
leg. While grasping client heel, elevate leg from
mattress slightly and side bath towel lengthwise
under leg.
31. Ask client to hold still. Place bath basin on
towel on bed and secure its position next to foot
to be washed.
32. Unless contraindicated, use long, firm,
strokes in washing from ankle to knee, knee to
thigh. Dry well.
33. Do the same with leg near you.
34. With one hand supporting lower leg, raise it
and slide basin under lifted foot. Immerse one
foot at a time. Make sure foot is firmly places on
bottom basin.
35. Soap foot, making sure to clean between
toes. Rinse and dry well. If skin is dry, apply
lotion according to patient’s choice.
36. Cover the client bath blanket, raise side rail
for client’s safety, and change bathwater.
37. Lower side rail. Assist client in prone or side-
lying position (as applicable). Place towel
lengthwise along client’s side.
38. Slide bath blanket over shoulders and thighs.
39. Apply disposable gloves (if not done yet)
40. Wash, rinse, and dry back from neck to
buttocks using long, firm strokes. Pay special
attention to folds of buttocks and anus. Give
back rub.
41. Change bath water and washcloth.
42. Assist client in side lying or supine position.
Cover sheet and upper extremities with towel
and lower extremities with bath blanket. Expose
only genitalia. Wash, rinse, and dry perineum.
Give special attention to skinfolds. If client is
able to do perineal care, leave wash cloth, basin
and soap with in easy reach and leave area.
43. Dispose gloves in receptacle.
44. Apply additional body lotion or oil as desired.
45. Help the client to put on a clean gown. If one
extremity is injured or immobilized always dress
affected side first.
46. Comb client’s hair. Women may want to
apply make-up.
NOTE: Mouth care, nail care, ear care, hair care
will be demonstrated separately.
47. Straighten client’s bed.
48. Discard soiled linen in dirty linen bag.
Replace call light and personal possessions.
Leave room as clean and comfortable as
possible.
49. Note skin areas that were previously soiled
reddened or showed early signs of breakdown.
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Prevents soiling of bed linen. Support of joint
and extremity during lifting prevents strain on
musculoskeletal structures.
Sudden movement by client could cause spillage
of bathwater. (this step is omitted if client is
unable to hold leg in basin).
Promotes venous return. Long, firm strokes
should not be used for clients with blood clots.
Proper positioning of foot prevents pressure
from the edge of basin against the calf. (Note: if
client is unable to hold leg in basin, do not
immerse; simply wash with washcloth).
Secretions and moisture may be present
between toes. Lotion helps to retain moisture.
Drop in water temperature during bathing can
cause chilling. Clean water reduces
microorganism transmission.
Exposes back and buttocks for bathing.
Maintain warmth and unnecessary exposure.
Prevents contact with microorganisms in body
secretions.
Skinfolds near buttocks and anus may contain
fecal secretions that harbor microorganisms.
Prevents transfer of microorganisms from anal
area to genitalia.
Maintains client’s privacy, clients capable of
performing partial bath usually prefer to wash
their own genitalia. Skinfolds are site for
accumulation of secretions and moisture.
Prevents transmission of microorganisms.
Moisturizing lotion prevents dry and chapped
skin.
Dressing affected side first, allows easier
manipulations of gown over body part with
reduce ROM.
Maintain client’s body image.
Provide clean environment.
Prevents transmission of infection. Clean
environment promotes comfort. Keeping call
light and articles of care within reach promotes
safety.
Techniques used during bathing should leave
skin clean and clear.
 ILOILO DOCTORS’ COLLEGE
COLLEGE OF NURSING
West Avenue, Molo, Iloilo City
5000 Philippines

50. Record type of bath and client’s tolerance to Timely documentation maintains accuracy of
bathing. Note significant findings, joint or muscle client’s record. Record condition of akin and
pain. Record level of assistance required by document response to therapy such as turning
client. and positioning.

Note: Refer to Transmutation Table for reference

Total Score: ________________ Students’ Signature: _________________

Total No, of checked Yes: _______ Instructors’ Signature: _________________
Equivalent: ________________