Patient Hygiene
NEO111
M. Jorgenson, RN BSN
Personal Hygiene
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Measures for personal cleanliness and grooming
Promotes physical and psychological well-being
Care must be carried out conveniently and
frequently enough to promote personal hygiene
and wellness
Practices vary widely among people; nurses
should respect individual patient preferences
Nurses should give only the care that patients
cannot or should not provide for themselves
Bedside Cleansing and Skin
Care Products
 Bathing
cloths
 Bathing wipes
 No-rinse body wash and shampoo
 Body foam
Folding the Washcloth for a Bed
Bath
Meeting Bathing Needs of
Patients With Dementia
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Focus on comfort, safety, autonomy, and selfesteem, in addition to cleanliness.
Individualize patient care.
Consider what can be learned about the needs
and preferences of the patient.
Consider other methods for bathing.
Maintain a relaxed demeanor; use calming
language.
Assessments Made When Giving
a Bed Bath
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Patient’s knowledge of hygiene practices and
bathing preferences
Frequency, time of day, type of hygiene products
used
Any physical activity limitations
Patient’s ability to bathe himself or herself
Patient’s skin for dryness, redness, or areas of
breakdown
Bathing (cont.)
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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!!
Assessments Made When
Providing Oral Care for a Patient
Patient’s oral hygiene preferences
 Frequency, time of day, type of hygiene
products
 Patient’s oral cavity and dentition
 Patient’s lips for dryness or cracking
 Patient’s ability to perform own care
 Any physical activity limitations
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Oral Care (Dependent Patient)
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Correct head position
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On its side and tilted forward
Raised 30-45 degrees
Rinsing the mouth of a dependent person
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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
Expected Outcomes When
Performing Oral Care
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The patient’s mouth and teeth will be clean.
The patient will not experience impaired oral
mucous membranes.
The patient will participate as much as possible
with oral care.
The patient will demonstrate improvement in
body image.
The patient will verbalize an understanding
about the importance of oral care.
Oral Hygiene for Patients With
Cognitive Impairments
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Choose a time of day when the patient is most
calm.
Enlist the aid of a family member or significant
other.
Break the task into small steps.
Provide distraction.
Allow the patient to participate.
If the patient strongly refuses care, withdraw.
Document effective and ineffective intervention.
Cleaning Dentures at the Sink
Assessments Made When
Providing Eye Care for a Patient
With Contacts
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Assess both eyes for contact lenses.
 Assess eyes for any redness or drainage.
 Assess for any eye injury.
 If an injury is present, notify the physician
about the presence of the contact lens.
 Do not try to remove the contact lens in this
situation due to the risk for additional eye
injury.
Contact Storage Case Marked L
and R
Assisting with Shaving
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Male facial hair—shave in the direction of hair
growth (with the grain)
 Female leg hair—shave against the direction of
hair growth (against the grain)
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When should shaving a patient with a straight
edge razor be avoided and an electric razor
used instead?
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Significant immunocompromised (low WBC)
Anticoagulation therapy (blood thinners)
Bleeding disorders
Low platelet count
Unexpected Situations and
Associated Interventions when
Shaving a Patient
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Patient is cut and bleeding during shave: Apply
pressure with gauze or towel to injured area for
3 - 3 minutes. Resume shaving after bleeding
has stopped.
 Patient has large amount of hair to be shaved: It
may need to be trimmed with scissors first.
Assessments Made When
Making an Occupied Bed
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Assess the patient’s preferences regarding linen
changes.
Assess for precautions or activity restrictions for
the patient.
Check for evidence of body secretions or fluids
on the linens.
Check the bed for patient belongings.
Note the presence and position of any tubes or
drains.
Fan-Folding Bottom Sheet When
Making a Bed
Providing Perineal Care for a
Female Patient
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Spread the labia and move the washcloth from
the pubic area toward the anal area.
 Always proceed from the least contaminated
area to the most contaminated area.
 Use a clean portion of the washcloth for each
stroke.
 Rinse the washed areas well with plain water.
Providing Perineal Care for a
Male Patient
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Clean the tip of the penis first, moving the
washcloth in a circular motion from the meatus
outward.
 Wash the shaft of the penis using downward
strokes toward the pubic area.
 Always proceed from the least contaminated
area to the most contaminated area.
 Rinse the washed areas well with plain water.
Questions?