How to bathe dead weight patients

[10ACGIRL]

I am not sure wheather I will accept the position of PCT in MSICU or Neuro ICU, because I am not sure how in God's name you bathe a massive stroke patient/ dead from waist down, or hip down without hurting yourself and it being too time consuming because there R other patients as well. How do you bathe a 'Dead weight ' body in Neuro or for that matter MSICU?

Kim

[fiveofpeep]

bathe the front and then call for help and quickly bathe the back while another person lifts them. coordinate it with turning so you can turn them with help then too.

[Conrad283, BSN, RN]

If they're light enough and you're strong enough you can do it yourself.

Even when you're with someone else, and as long as they DON'T have to be log rolled, you can do it pretty easily.

If you're turning them to the left, you take their right leg and put it further to the left than their left leg. This will help them stay on their side.

You'll get the hang of it.

[ECRN 4085]

Conrad said it best, one leg over the other. The ICU beds are different in my hospital than in step down or general units. They gives us the ability to inflate the mattress which can actually turn the patient itself. Investigate the unit and see if those beds offer that function.

[bellehill, RN]

You get help. The important thing is to not hurt yourself trying to roll a dead weight patient. Even on a busy shift there is enough time to spend 5 minutes bathing a patient.