Tips on making that ICU bed look perfect after a bath

This thread inspired me to give my patient the full-on head to toe scrub (it didn't hurt that she was a one-to-one either) including hair washing, nail soaking etc.
Unfortunately, I feel like she was just irritated that I was messing with her for so long. Anyone ever feel like that? She was intubated and sedated so I couldn't just ask her if she wanted me too. plus, it took me from start to finish... like an hour and a half, lol. Even after she was all clean and dry and warm, it took a few hours before she looked comfortable again.

It bothers me most when people say they bathed the patient on their shift yet continue to use the same nasty, soiled abdominal binder a patient when it is clear that the patient needs a new one. I bathed my patient the other night, soap and water, although we are technically not suppose to but the patient needed it, changed the binder and the sheets. Patient felt better after I was done.

I came upon this thread late, but I do agree I long for the days when one wasn't worried about MRSA or if the "bath basin" was harboring bugs...
Once in a while I will give an old fashioned soapy, wet, warm bed bath...my particular MEDCEN uses those disposable pre-moistened towels or wash-cloths. Just don't do the job like the old fashioned wash cloths of my youth and oftentimes it is not cost effective to use the plastic wash basin once and throw it away.
But I find, working nights, that it is the rule that once you have administered your bed bath, made your critically ill patient look so much better, and your patient is positioned JUST SO....Along comes X-Ray! Sigh, and there goes your perfectly positioned patient!
athena

I still use the good ol soap and water...I just wipe my basin down before and after with the sani wipes! I love washing my patients hair and braiding it up, feels good and keeps them tidy for long vent days!

When I get a surgical patient , I use alcohol wipes to gently remove the betadine stains and then give the bed bath. It is alot easier than scrubbing their skin forever with soap and water to remove it. It's also easier on their skin. During a bed bath, I try to keep the parts I'm not washing covered and turn on the heating lights above the bed. This keeps them warm and comfortable.

I am a new grad and will be starting in the ICU on May 18th. Thanks to everyone for all of these suggestions/directions. I think I learned something from every single post and I intend to use them all. This is a great thread.

I like that you cover up parts not being washed...does anyone ever offer backrubs to stable patients?

I'm curious...what shift are all of you thorough bathers working? I work days and we are so hectic...most of the time I'm grateful to get my patients (we normally have two in a combined MICU/SICU) a bed bath, linen change and oral care....shaving and hair washing is a luxury that I can rarely afford (although I do it when I can).

{{Raising my hand up}} I DO...and at my old civilian job I used to get "yelled at" for doing that. [I also used to walk around the unit, at about 22:00 or so, and offer my patient's who weren't NPO a cuppa (tea, hot chocolate)] One or two of the other nurses on the next shift would complain that I was making their jobs harder because many of the patient's would ask for a "back rub" or a cuppa, and when a particular nurse stated she didn't have the time, the patient would reply, "Well athena did!"
I always will offer a back rub, several times during the shift. Of course I am back in the ICU so I can offer them more frequently.
athena

Basically, have them presentable as if you would expect your own mother or father to look if they were in the unit. PS, speaking of ICU bed change/ wash, as turning a patient with ARDS to the side to clean his bum bum the other day the turn put him into an SVT. Yikes! Remember, even bed changes/ washes have their risks. Cheers!