ICU and Bed baths?

1. I have worked at a couple different units and each had their own policy on bed baths. Where I worked last we did baths at 4am. Days said they were to busy to do them.
   
   Just wondering what the policy at your unit is ....
   Day, eve, night or whenever staff is able to get to it.

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2. Poll: When do you bath Pts in the unit?

   • Day shift

     26.83% 22

   • Evening shift

     6.10% 5

   • Night shift

     42.68% 35

   • Whenever a staff member can get to it.

     24.39% 20

   82 Votes
3. 

   About Going80INA55

   Joined: Dec '02; Posts: 158; Likes: 3
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   24 Comments

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4. 
   Apr 13, '03

   We do evening - but one unit I worked in bathed the patient every shift AND changed the linen whether it was required or not, Was looked down on and questioned if you decided that the linen didn't need changing that shift!
   
   Quite a few still do the 6 am (but really 4 AM) wash. We don't because we believe in "sleep" and "rest" periods for everyone but the most critically ill.
5. 
   Apr 13, '03

   You know what its a bed bath, I say just do it when the even arises..... I have even done them in surgery simply because IT WAS NEEDED, and didnt want the patient in any more discomfort. I scrubbed the man down like it was a 5 yr old that had played in mudd for a month everyone in the OR thought I was nuts but you know what it was comforting to him, and I didnt want his family to see him in the shape I found him in. Why is it such an issue to do basic ADL's for a patient? Not saying that you are saying it is but I have seen nurses about come to blows when this issue is brought up.
   Just a thought
   Zoe
6. 
   Apr 13, '03

   See I am with you do the bath when It is needed, as long as it gets done. But I felt to wake up someone who is in the unit at 4am to bath them is wild. Yes, I have to assess them and give meds but many can go back to sleep. Freeze them at 4 am and many dont and we mess up their sleep.
   
   I switched to days while I worked there and did the baths in the am. The night nurses knew I did this so they did not bath at 4 am they would just assess them. The patient could get some sleep this way.
7. 
   Apr 14, '03

   We always do the bed bath on nights.
   
   Days too busy.
8. 
   Apr 14, '03

   nights...great time to do a skin assessment.
9. 
   Apr 16, '03

   Vent patients on sedation get their baths at night. otherwise we try try to get it done during the dayshift. How many people do you know get up at 0200 to bathe?
10. 
    Apr 16, '03

    Propofol drip? I am assuming you are referring to a Diprivan gtt. I have a hard time with generic names. Diprivan can be wonderful with the right patient.
11. 
    Apr 16, '03

    In our CCU half of the pts get done AM shift/other half PM...we usually do the harder/total care folks @ night ,saving the more alert pts for days.
12. 
    Apr 16, '03

    Originally posted by deebug
    Propofol drip? I am assuming you are referring to a Diprivan gtt. I have a hard time with generic names. Diprivan can be wonderful with the right patient.

    Propfol and Diprivan are the same thing.
13. 
    Apr 21, '03

    Ah, the heated bath debate. I think that, while it's important to have some sort of "system" to ensure that everything "gets done" nurses need to use a little common sense when it comes to this. What would you want done if you were the patient?
    
    And, define "bath." I've seen some nurses make such a procedure out of bathing their patients. Basic hygeine is one thing, spa day at Mario Tricoci is another!
14. 
    Apr 21, '03

    Actually it is when it is the best time for both patient and staff. Unresponsive patients can be bathed in the middle of the night without bothering them. Alert and Oriented patients should be asked when they perfer.
15. 
    Apr 22, '03

    When I've floated to ICU I usually do both the baths on nights, unless it's an alert and oriented person who needs to sleep. But other people do one bath and let days to the other one. That seems to work out well also. If I know they are going to have a busy day, for instance a patients going out, or they have trips to CT scan, I'll definately do both baths.

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