Bath Bags

[esokane]

I work in an intermediate care unit and I am trying to gather information on baths bags. We have showers, but they are very seldom used as our pts are monitored and we need an MD order to take them off for showers. We use a wash bucket, soap and skin moisterizer for most of our patients. Approximatley 10% of pts are total care pts, 60% are assists, and 30% are independant. If anyone has any comments, negative or positive on using bath bags especially on the type unit I work on I would appreciate it. I would also appreciate any research data or help in finding some to help me present this to my clinical manager.

[sister--*]

I have no idea what a bath bag is. My facility uses Comfort Baths (trade name). Eight warmed premoistened towelettes that you wipe and toss. They are supposed to cut-down on infection rates while providing excellent skin conditioning.

Of course there's nothing like a shower, but, truth be told.....they are quick and awesome!

[esokane]

To clarify my question, I am using a trade name of "bath bag". I'm looking for any info on packaged clothes or wipes use for personal hygiene.

[Anjann, RN]

We have the Baths in a bag, we also have hair shampoo's in a cap that warm in the microwave. Our bath bags are basically adult body wipes. They come with a warmer with slots to put the bags in and we also microwave them for 30 seconds before taking them into the patient rooms. These bags are the main way we clean our patients since many of them are elderly total cares, fall risks, ortho patients on traction, etc.

The one problem our facility had in the beginning is that these wipes are NOT flushable and must be thrown in the garbage can. The patients kept flushing them and overflowed the plumbing. But we have not had any problems recently with that since we end up doing most of the washing anyway and have become more diligent about stressing no flushing or we were going to have the bags taken away by the hospital.

They're very nice to use.

[Anjann, RN]

Sorry then, I guess I misunderstood! :)

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

This is the home page of Bag Bath. I'm sure if you call the company they would be happy to provide you with information.

http://www.bag-bath.com/

[esokane]

I have sent emails to two company's requesting info. The only problem is the info is all in their favor. I hope by putting the question out to the ones using them I can get the real pro's and con's.....like the plumbing issue, thanks for the heads up!

[herecomestrouble]

I have used the Comfort Bath cloths and the only problem I ever had with them was that they are very smooth,sometimes to get a really dirty pt or one with very dry scaly skin clean you need an old fashioned rough terry cloth wash rag.Other than that they were great.

[maryloufu]

We use the comfort baths and also wipes with a special additive for the peri area. I like them but I dont feel like they get the patient very clean. I always give them a terry washcloth for their face and neck- I feel like it is nicer to have a real cloth on the face.

[Scrubz]

I have no idea what a bath bag is. My facility uses Comfort Baths (trade name). Eight warmed premoistened towelettes that you wipe and toss. They are supposed to cut-down on infection rates while providing excellent skin conditioning.

Of course there's nothing like a shower, but, truth be told.....they are quick and awesome!

The hospital I work at right now uses the same things. I don't think they're all that great though becasue you really can't give someone a good bath with one of those. Maybe if you used these every other day, and on the off days gave someone a real soap and water bath, that'd be okay.

I find these things best used just to spot clean someone off. Like if they wet the bed, use one of these to wipe them off, but not to give a complete bath.

That's just my opinion.

They'll never have anything as good as a real shower though.

[rn undisclosed name]

We use these at our hospital. Our version is to use terry cloth washcloths with soap and water. I like this because many times when carrying the bucket to wash patients up you would spill water. Plus those plastic buckets are used over and over - ewww! This way the patient gets a fresh bath bag each day or more often if necessary.

[Sunflowerinsc, ADN, RN]

We used the bath bags for awhile but they were not accepted very well by the pt's or their families. Did not seem like a real bath to them. They want to see a wash basin of nice warm water and soap! Nursing aides liked to use them,everything in the kit,ect but most of the time went back to soap and water, unless the pt just needed "a touch-up". They didn't feel like they really got most pt's clean. We have alot of total care,inconti and really dry scaley skin. Use alot of lotion or just plain mineral oil on legs and feet.