Patient Hygiene

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Patient Hygiene

• NEO111M. Jorgenson, RN BSN

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Patient Hygiene

• Daily bathing to prevent infection
• Common modes of infection transmission
• NursePatient
• Super-infection (overgrowth of normal body flora)
• Transmission of normal body flora from one body
  site to another
• The Immunocompromised patient population is at
  the greatest risk for infection in a health care
  setting

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Bathing (cont.)

• Order of Bathing
• Eyes/Face (rinsing wash cloth between eyes)
• neck ears
• Arms
• chest/abdomen
• Legs
• Back
• buttocks
• perineal area
• If using a water basin to bath a patient, water
  should be changed
• After washing the front of the person and prior
  to cleaning the back and buttocks.
• Change the water again prior to perineal
• care!!

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Oral Care (Dependent Patient)

• Correct head position
• On its side and tilted forward
• Raised 30-45 degrees
• Rinsing the mouth of a dependent person
• Carefully squirt a small amount of water using an
  irrigating syringe being sure to avoid the back
  of the throat
• Immediately suction water out with a yankaur
• suction device
• Use of a toothette or suction toothette

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Assisting with Shaving

• Male facial hairshave in the direction of hair
  growth (with the grain)
• Female leg hairshave against the direction of
  hair growth (against the grain)
• When should shaving a patient with a straight
  edge razor be avoided and an electric razor used
  instead?
• Significant immunocompromised (low WBC)
• Anticoagulation therapy (blood thinners)
• Bleeding disorders
• Low platelet count

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Patient Hygiene- Bed Bath Video