Baths

[beachbum3]

A question:

How are pts given baths on your unit? Do the techs get the pt completely uncovered/dressed and give a bath while they are completely naked on the bed or leave parts that aren't being cleaned covered?

I always thought to leave pts covered as much as possible, but wondered what the reality is on other units.

[JRD2002]

The easiest way to do a bed bath that I have come across is to put a new trash can liner in a trash can, put 5-6 towels in there, add hot soapy water and then start applying to the patient. Eventually you end up with the patients head being the only part exposed. Start cleaning the area under each towel. After you are down with an area remove the wet towel and replace with a warm blanket or towel. This provides the most pt privacy and keeps the patient nice and warm during the entire bath. Lack of privacy and freezing to death are the two biggest complaints of bed baths that I know of.

[Hygiene Queen]

The more you keep the pt covered, the more comfortable they will feel... making your job easier. Let them have their dignity and keep 'em warm... especially dementia pts that hate baths! They HATE the bathing experience (maybe had some bad ones from an uncaring staff somewhere) and they hate to be cold. The warmer you keep them and the more you talk them through it, the better off you are.