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Discussion

complete bed bath

one day left for final exam, got a confused thing. instructor said complete bed bath is that nurse do everything for pt who cannot do anything like on vent or unconsciousness; partial bath is that nurse help pt do part of the clean. but the right answer for one of my practice questions is UAP assist pt in taking a complete bed bath (and the pt is just weak and had a feet ulcer even can do bed exercise). Does anyone can tell me what is really complete bed bath and partial bed bath. so appreciate helping!!!!

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    • Featured Replies

    In my experience:

    Complete bed bath: Patient is washed head to toe. Hair washed, face washed, all body parts washed.

    Partial bed bath: Some, but not all of the patient's body is washed. Patient might only wash face, hands and peri-area. May only wash upper body, etc.

    The amount of assistance the patient receives is documented differently. If the nurse/aide provides total care, this is documented as "Total assistance with bathing." If the patient can do most things themselves, but requires help for certain areas like back and legs, it's documented as "Partial assistance with bathing." If the patient requires items to be laid out for them (wash basin filled and carried, toiletries placed on the bedside table, etc), but can perform the washing themselves, they are a "Set-up only." If they can gather all items and bathe themselves without assistance, they are documented as "Independent."

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    The way I learned it is:

    Complete bed bath is washing the patient head to toe and everywhere in between. A partial bed bath is just washing the important areas (face, underarms, perineal care, etc). This is typically done on a patient that is unable to get out of bed and/or wash themselves. The definition doesn't change depending on if a RN, LPN, CNA, or any combination of the above does it.

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    • Experts

    My understanding is that a complete bed bath is from head to toe, everything. Partial bed bath is face, arms, hands, armpits. As for having the patient help, that can be done for any bath but is not required. If they can help, you ask them to do their private area, if they are capable. I don't know the book answer. At home (home health care), my patient can do nothing. I do as much of a bath as I think the patient needs from one day to the next with my goal to be a complete bed bath each day. It is not like I do not have the time to do a complete bath on a daily basis. But that is not the answer they are going to look for on an exam.

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    Bed bath = head to toe and everything in between.

    Partial bath = PTA bath...pits, tits and orifice (hands and face too) :lol2:

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    Bed bath = head to toe and everything in between.

    Partial bath = PTA bath...pits, tits and orifice (hands and face too) :lol2:

    "Butt" please wash the face first. :lol2:

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    "Butt" please wash the face first. :lol2:

    Well of course! :redbeathe

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    • Author

    Ashley, your answer really helps my confusion! thanks so much. and thanks everybody else too :)

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    I agree full bed bath is everything gets washed partial is only certian areas

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    And if we've got someone who's really unstable on a vent, major cardiac incident, we chart "partial bath, 3 assists" which means, it took all of us to do it, and we got the pits, the bottom, and anywhere stinky.

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    complete bed bath is head to toe, every crevice

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