Bed bath hell

KrysyRN, BSN · Aug 24, 2006

I feel your pain. I used to go home with the bedbath checklist in hand, get the needed supplies, stand at my bed, and go over and over and over the steps until I could do it with my eyes closed. It made the terror of doing the skill in front of the instructor so much better.

tookewlandy · Aug 24, 2006

Do not worry, find someone that will let you practice simulating bed baths on them and then make the bed over and over and over again. When you practice do it in the order that your instructor wants it done so that when you get checked off you will have it in the bag. Pretty soon you will be able to do it in way under 40 min. Good luck, I'm so jealous, 12 more days till i start!

LanaBanana · Aug 24, 2006

You CAN do this in under 40 minutes - actually much less! Start with the basics - think about the supplies you need for the bath (soaps, dish pan, barrier creams/lotion, several washcloths and towels, etc, and the patient gown) then think about the supplies to make the bed (fitted or bottom sheet, draw sheet, pad, top sheet, blanket, pillow cases). Once you can remember all of that then move on to thinking about the bath and when to use a fresh washcloth/water, correct direction for wiping (clean to dirty), keeping your pt dry and warm and making sure skin folds are dry before moving on, applying motion and/or barrier creams, and doing your skin assessment as you clean each area. It sounds like a lot, but you are checking skin is you go, so the skin assessment isn't separate. I've seen a lot of aids who wipe bottoms without really looking at the bottom - you can't tell if there's a skin breakdown without that!

Adaptations you can make to this include giving the pt a washcloth and asking if they would like to wash their own face and peri area - some would prefer this but you may have to do a simulation of actually doing it for school. When we did our simulation we basically talked our way through it - showing the motions that would be used and when you got to peri area you said that for a female you would open labia and wipe from front to back using a separate are of the cloth for each stroke. That's really they kind of thing their looking for, as well as providing provicy for the patient and telling them what you are doing before touching.

Hope that helps. Like someone else said, practice it at home, even if you have to practice on a doll!

FNPhopeful · Aug 24, 2006

You CAN do this in under 40 minutes - actually much less! Start with the basics - think about the supplies you need for the bath (soaps, dish pan, barrier creams/lotion, several washcloths and towels, etc, and the patient gown) then think about the supplies to make the bed (fitted or bottom sheet, draw sheet, pad, top sheet, blanket, pillow cases). Once you can remember all of that then move on to thinking about the bath and when to use a fresh washcloth/water, correct direction for wiping (clean to dirty), keeping your pt dry and warm and making sure skin folds are dry before moving on, applying motion and/or barrier creams, and doing your skin assessment as you clean each area. It sounds like a lot, but you are checking skin is you go, so the skin assessment isn't separate. I've seen a lot of aids who wipe bottoms without really looking at the bottom - you can't tell if there's a skin breakdown without that!
Adaptations you can make to this include giving the pt a washcloth and asking if they would like to wash their own face and peri area - some would prefer this but you may have to do a simulation of actually doing it for school. When we did our simulation we basically talked our way through it - showing the motions that would be used and when you got to peri area you said that for a female you would open labia and wipe from front to back using a separate are of the cloth for each stroke. That's really they kind of thing their looking for, as well as providing provicy for the patient and telling them what you are doing before touching.
Hope that helps. Like someone else said, practice it at home, even if you have to practice on a doll!

Great tips, thanks!

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2006

Also remember ask their permission to perform a bed bath, I always think they should be given the choice if there are 'corpus mentis'.

puggymae · Aug 24, 2006

You can do it - you have been bathing yourself for years and look how easy you make it look! Try not to be nervous - but do be prepared and know the skill. Good luck!

hospitalstaph · Aug 24, 2006

Seriously, don't be nervous! You will be fine. Make sure you review the skills and you will fly through it in less than 40 min.

Just a little funny...my dh was in the hosp last year and had a student nurse that came in to change his bedding. He said the poor guy took almost an hour but provided some much needed conversation:)

T

traumaQN · Aug 25, 2006

I feel your pain.. I have the same skills test next week!

We have a skills test on washing our hands, and I am freaked out about that.. duh, I know how to wash my hands!! I am leaving my rings at home the day of my skills test, because I know I will forget to say, "removed jewelry" and fail!

txnurse32 · Aug 25, 2006

I am a first year student. I had a check off on bed making and I had to do it twice to get it right. I ask the instructor if making a list of what they expected in the correct order would help and she said it would. I would also have the teacher or another student watch you and correct you when you make a mistake so you will remember when you do the check off for a grade.

prmenrs, RN · Aug 25, 2006

Reheorifice!! Find a good friend or willing relative, put them on the bed (clothed) and run thru the drill.

Use 3x5 cards for each and every supply item. Number the cards and put them around your home. That way you can practice running around getting stuff--the numbers will tell you if you've missed something.

You can use the cards in the clinical setting. Do a "treasure hunt", and mark on the card where that item is kept. That will speed up the gathering of supplies. Nothing like running around trying to find the closet or cart different things live.

Then practice the head to toe bathing proceedure, placing each card wherever you need to.

You can do it!! We've all been there. One of my instructors had been in the Army and kept trying to bounce a quarter on my unoccupied bed. I don't remember if she ever succeeded!

JessiekRN · Aug 25, 2006

Hi FNPhopeful.. I have my "demonstration", as my school calls it, to test off in front off my professors this Monday morning.. talk about performance anxiety.. so I feel your pain! Handwashing, gloving, bedbath, and occupied bedmaking.. the lab was open all week for us to come in and practice but I still don't feel prepared.. this weekend is going to be all about studying! I keep telling myself that this is as basic as it is going to get.. so I better get it straight.. but I am very nervous to be "on stage", as it feels like. Just wanted to wish you good luck.. I think we'll be okay!! :)