Bed Bath stress

prmenrs, RN · Sep 20, 2008

Find some "bodies" to practice on--friends (good ones), siblings, etc. If your school has a doll to practice on, do it. The more you do it, the less you'll be nervous.

lifeLONGstudent · Sep 21, 2008

you can come bathe my patients !!!!!!!!!:rotfl:

a n y t i m e !!!!

allnurses Guide · Sep 21, 2008

I don't mean to sound ignorant, but how do you fail giving a bedbath? I genuinely don't know..?

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2008

I don't mean to sound ignorant, but how do you fail giving a bedbath? I genuinely don't know..?

It depends on the teacher. I can totally see it. Someone can flunk you for not holding the cloth in the correct hand or starting off with the wrong side etc etc. I think those labs are ridiculous. Each person is different and needs a bath in a different way.

Don't stress, seriously. Just figure out what that teacher wants an then perform that way.

allnurses Guide · Sep 22, 2008

Really? Wow, I'm glad we didn't have that when I was in school. What does it matter, so long as you get them clean and don't wipe their face after their butt? Heh.

In that case, I agree, find out how they want you to do it, practise that a lot, and you should be fine. Try to remember the instructor is not there trying to fail you - if nothing else, it messes up their school stats. They want you to pass.

lukesmama · Sep 22, 2008

I spilled a small amount of H2O on the overbed table.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Sep 22, 2008

I spilled a small amount of H2O on the overbed table.

Oh dear...I should be fired from my job if thats the case. Ive dumped basins of soapy water on the floor many a time.

This is how I do it.

1. Wash face with wet cloth-no soap.

I will wash their hair if needed...but that a whole other topic.

2. Wash arms and pits....each with a seperate cloth.

3. Wash body

4. Wash legs.

6. Wash groin/ catheter care.

7. Wash bottom.

8. Change gloves to wash back

9. Change old sheets with pt. in the bed.

Remember...dont throw your dirty linens or towels on the floor. I do it all the time now...not if I can avoid it anyway. But I know my instructors used to get their panties in a knot if we ever did. Thats something they may ding you on. And if you wash their face after their butt, like a previous poster said.

Bed baths are not so bad. I do them daily in ICU and its a great way to asses your patient, as you see them from every angle.

allnurses Guide · Sep 24, 2008

Remember...dont throw your dirty linens or towels on the floor. I do it all the time now....

Why do you do it all the time now? It's an infection control issue.

deeDawntee, RN · Sep 25, 2008

I believe those first labs were there to see if you could stand up under scrutiny more than anything...(and of course, follow a 'protocol'...). I think they failed you on your lack of confidence. (IMHO) I am a person who has had to deal with insecurity all of my life so believe me, I know how hard it can be, but if you want to stay in this program and be a nurse, you really need to dig down deep and find whatever courage you can. You need to be FIERCE in the face of scrutiny. I would practice acting confident and seeing myself as competent, able and the VERY BEST bed-bath giver in the universe....or whatever visualization or self-talk works for you. You CAN do it!!! Don't let yourself be intimidated.

I do believe that the purpose of nursing school is to weed out people. If you aren't able to let go of your own agenda and your own doubts and do what needs to be done following a procedure, you probably will make mistakes and not be cut out for nursing anyway.... These first tests are rough...the bed baths, even bed making, hand washing... because some people just can't do it....don't be one of those people...

How long do you have until your next test-out? Practice, but not just the mechanics...practice 'being' confident...fake it until you make it and you will!!! I promise.

:yeah: :yeah::yeah:you can do it!

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2008

Why do you do it all the time now? It's an infection control issue.

I didnt mean to say that I do it "all the time". I know its an infection control issue. Occasionally I dont have the dirty linen hamper near me, and I gotta do things quick, so the old bed sheets go on the floor. Im not throwing wet, poo covered cloths on the floor. I didnt mean it to sound like I do it every time I bathe someone. I do try to put it in the hamper if at all possible.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Sep 27, 2008

Bed baths can be quick, but for me they are only quick if I spend 10 minutes arranging my stuff first. It doesn't matter if we double team it, not getting your stuff ready first automatically makes it take longer.

And by the way, I always put a towel on the overbed table, then set the washbasin full of water on it. Then it doesn't matter if I drip water. I suppose the instructor that wants no darn water drips also has never had to use a napkin to wipe his or her mouth! Hmph, must be nice.

Seriously though, our labs were quite a bit more relaxed on the bed baths thing. I couldn't make a draw sheet to save my life, and I learned that day because the instructor took my hands and showed me. The procedure didn't get refined until months after graduation when we had very little time to get stuff done, and did it night after night.

BTW I'm a backwards washer. Feet first. With the wet wipe things, that you throw away and don't put back in the water, so you can use the initial pail for the whole wash without contaminating the patient's delicate areas.

The only thing wet wipes don't do well for is flaky foot skin that happens to be a bit on the sharp side- need an actual washrag for that or you leave like, lint stuck to the feet.

Is your lab open with a dummy you can come in and practice on, prior to the next time you have to do this skill for the instructor? Practice, practice, practice. Why do they not give you different instructors, or more than one, for the final checkoff opportunity? That way maybe you get less, or different, bias. It's worth asking about.