How to shower patients with mobility problems.

grannynurse FNP student · Nov 20, 2005

This will probably sound like a stupid question but I've just started my first clinical placement in geriatric rehabilitation. We have many patients who aren't very stable on their feet and I'm just wondering what to do when you shower them. Is it okay to take a commode or wheelchair into the shower for them to sit on. I'm just scared in case they fall in the shower.

There are various assistive devices that are utilized to bath patients with mobility problems. Ordinarily, a person's own wheelchair is not used. They are not meant for such use and will suffer problems when exposed to water.

Grannynurse:balloons:

Danianne · Nov 20, 2005

I am not sure what kind of facility you work in but in ours we have bath chairs that can be used or yeah you could just a commode that is all hard plastic not the one with the padded lid and seat.that is what we do at our facility when we use the shower.

RN and Mommy · Nov 21, 2005

Be prepared to get very wet yourself!:chuckle

NebbyLPN · Nov 21, 2005

There is such a thing called a shower chair. It's usually a tubular plastic chair similar looking to a commode with wheels on it. I have seen some that are similar to lawn chairs in the way they are made. The patient is then sat in the chair and wheeled to the showers. This kind of chair is designed to get wet in the shower and allows you to be able to wash all parts of the body except for the behind. Have the patient stand for a few moments when you wash their bottom and then sit down again in the chair. We also have a litter, or guerney, for patients who are unable to sit and must remain lying. We wheel them into the shower and hose them down! Our shower chairs are usually kept in the shower rooms. Ask the facility where they keep theirs. They should have at least one around.