Registered Mental Health Nursing (RMN)
BATHING A HYPOACTIVE PATIENT IN BED
This is the act of washing/cleansing the body of a patient who does not have the physical and mental capability of self-bathing and is confined to bed. Hypoactive patients are usually less active, withdrawn and retarded.
Purpose
- Keep patient clean and enhance self-concept
- Stimulate blood circulation
- Regulate body temperature
- Provide comfort, relaxation and induce sleep
- Prevent/minimize skin irritation/infection
- Aid in physical assessment of the patient
Equipment
- A trolley containing:
- Top shelf
- Bowl/basin for the bath water
- Face towel/sponge
- Soap in a dish
- Comb and hair brush
- Talcum powder
- Tooth brush and tooth paste/chewing sponge/stick
- Bath thermometer
- Nail cutter
- Kidney dish
- Bottom shelf:
- Bowl /bucket to receive used water
- Two jugs for hot and cold water
- Bath towels
- Draw sheet/cloth, bed sheets
- Mackintosh
- Gown
- Bin for soiled linen
- Mirror
- Patient clothes
- Preferred body cream/lotion
- Covered bedpan/urinal
- Tissue paper
- Examination gloves
- Screen
- Assisting nurse(s)
- Chairs
Procedure steps
- Establish rapport (refer procedure)
- Explain the procedure to the patient
- Prepare the trolley and send it to the patient’s bedside
- Call for an assistant
- Provide privacy and offer bedpan/urinal if required
- Remove bedpan/urinal if used and empty them
- Place chairs in position
- Perform hand hygiene and don gloves
- Remove top bed clothes and put them on chairs and cover patient with a sheet
- Protect bottom sheet and pillow(s) with protective material
- Mix bath water in a basin to a desired temperature (30 - 400C) using a bath thermometer/the back of your hand/elbow
- Talk to the patient throughout the procedure
- Remove the patient’s clothes being careful not to cause any pain/discomfort to him/her
- Wash, rinse and dry patient’s face, neck and ears, using face towels (use soap if desired)
- Wash, rinse and dry the arms, first instruct the assisting nurse to wash hands farthest away from you(nurse) and then the arm nearest to you (nurse)
- Pay special attention to the hand, in between the fingers and the nails
- Wash, rinse and dry the chest and abdomen, (giving special care to the area under the breast if a female) the umbilicus and the folds of the skin in the groin
- Wash, rinse and dry the legs and feet in the same way as in step 14 paying special attention to toes
- Change water when necessary
- Clean the genitals (vulva into a bed pan if a female)
- Turn patient on his/her side and wash the back, rinse and dry thoroughly
- Examine and treat pressure areas
- Change the bottom linen if necessary
- Groom and put patient in a desired position and express appreciation to him/her
- Express appreciation to patient and direct him/her to the next activity
- Remove screen, clear trolley, disinfect used items and perform hand hygiene
- Document procedure and report any abnormalities in nurses’ notes/patient’s folder
References and further reading
Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.
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