My first bed bath!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2008

hi, jackie. i don't think there is any easy way to get over the fear of giving your first bed baths. you just have to hunker down and do it. try not to let on to the patient that it is your first time because some patients tend to get upset if they get the idea that they are your "first" or even your "second". if they do ask you how many bed baths you've done, lie and say it isn't your first (which is probably true anyway since you probably did one in lab) or ask them "how many do you think i've done?", but don't tell them the truth.

hang in there. you'll get through this. we all had to do our first and went through the same anxiety over it.

nurz2be · Jan 20, 2008

Our instructor told us like Daytonite said, "Tell them it seems like I have done a million." I think the main thing as with anything you are doing that is new is to relax. You aren't going to break your patient giving them a bath. If you are nervous they will see it. Try to get someone to tell you a joke, clean, before entering the room. You will enter the room with a nice smile and you could easily end up telling, said clean joke, to your patient thus breaking the ice.

I think the main thing is to listen to your patient. They let you know when they are uncomfortable, even if they cannot speak or are too embarrassed to. Keep whatever you are not bathing covered. Don't run in and rip back the covers until the bath is completed.

By the time you get done with 10-20 you will no longer be "nervous" and will be glad happy that it isn't a daily responsibility for most nurses. It will also help you (anyone) appreciate the work CNA's do.

HAVE FUN!

ostomyrn2b09 · Jan 20, 2008

Thank you for everyone's input it is greatly appreciated!! I will let you know how it goes!

jackie

Pretty in Ink · Jan 20, 2008

I am in my last semester in an LVN program and I must say there have been so many 1sts for my but one of the most memorable and uncomfortable would easily be my 1st bed bath as well!!! That's one thing about nursing school, you have no time to stick your toes in the water to see how cold it is, you have to dive in!!! The only thing I can say is try to remain calm and nonjudgemental. Remember it's more embarrasing (usually) for the patient than it is for you. Like the previous post said, keep in mind their modesty and cover every part that you are not washing at the time. By the time you know it it will be all over with and just remember to keep the warm, put the side rails back up and lower the bed back down and then you can move on to the next 100 that your gonna do while in nursing school :)

PizzaPizza23 · Jan 24, 2008

Hello! Bed baths are intimidating at first. After you introduce yourself, an important thing is that you have everything all ready by the bedside so you aren't leaving your patient hanging there half nude! Have enough towels, their soap, lotion, things like that. I always like to keep a few extra wash cloths in the room.. you may drop one on the floor or it may become too soiled. Offer the washcloth to the patient so they may wash what they can wash (even if it is just part of their face), it helps maintain their independence.

Like the replies state above, just go in there and be confident! It is a bit awkward at first, but most likely unless it is a new admit your patient has been bathed by others before.

Goodluck! You will do great : )

sboyett22 · Jan 31, 2008

Hi I will be starting clinicals the first week of feb! does anyone have any tips or advice on how to make a patient feel comfortable for bed baths??? or any tips when u did ur first patient bed bath? how long did it take you? or how to get over my fear of giving one? thanks
jackie

HA HA HA oh the dreaded first bed bath!! I remember those days! My advice would to be... go in the room and introduce yourself like your not nervous at all... and trust me you will be so nervous your gloves will be soaked inside!!! My first one actually took about 45 min just for the bath! WHOA that's WAY too long! I took it way to slow and treated the pt like they were going to break. BIG MISTAKE! lol The thing I have come to realize is if possible make lots of conversation while getting supplies ready and doing the bath. People LOVE to talk about themselves so ask about family or something. This will make the both of you more comfortable. then just jump into it like they teach you. I very rarely had pts this didn't work with. Good luck and let us know how it goes for ya!

eccentricRN · Jan 31, 2008

Like pretty much what everyone else said, you need to come off confident, even though inside your a cowering scared animal. Just be sure to keep them covered when you're not washing that part. Start at the top, face & work your way down... and if you do take awhile, be kind, cover your patient & get some warm water, no one likes a cold bath.

you'll do fine & before you know it it'll be old hat.

Leigh40 · Feb 4, 2008

I start clinicals in April and I so want the first bed bath out of the way. In the lab I gagged when I had to brush my partners teeth. Boy that was a surprise, I just hope I don't do that at the hospital.ha ha

xstarsfallingx · Feb 4, 2008

Just remember: You WILL be nervous. You just cannot let that stop you, or make you feel incompetent.

I'm in my second semester and I still freak out when I have to walk into a client's room for the first time. My first bedbath was done with a classmate of mine because I was so scared...and it turned out to be such a smaller deal.

What helps me is I always remind myself that the care I am giving is most likely (though sadly) better than the care they are receiving when I am not there. A client once told me, "Wow, you're so gentle when you do that!" while I was washing his ARM! You begin to realize how rushed many of the assistant's are, and how quickly and roughly they sometimes do these TPC tasks.

Just hang in there! Every new experience will be scary, it is the repetition that makes you feel like a pro. With that comes the comfort and the confidence. :up:

catzy5 · Feb 4, 2008

hi, jackie. i don't think there is any easy way to get over the fear of giving your first bed baths. you just have to hunker down and do it. try not to let on to the patient that it is your first time because some patients tend to get upset if they get the idea that they are your "first" or even your "second". if they do ask you how many bed baths you've done, lie and say it isn't your first (which is probably true anyway since you probably did one in lab) or ask them "how many do you think i've done?", but don't tell them the truth.
hang in there. you'll get through this. we all had to do our first and went through the same anxiety over it.

well i have a fear too i start clinical next week, i got checked off last week on bed bath's, know what i had to do to get checked off? i watched a video that said bed bath was a good time to do assesment. there was no instruction, demenstration nothing on even how to begin, i am getting very nervous about the school i have chosen so far it has not been a good ride, i am just hoping and praying my clinical time will be positive and i have a chance to learn there. our instructor said no one ever killed anyone giving a bed bath so that is why we didn't learn. :::sigh:::

kad13579 · Feb 8, 2008

I have just a few months left of school and I remember my first bed bath. I was so nervous! I was shaking so bad. I just went in and got my supplies together and started talking to my pt. I think that's what really got me through it. Like posts said before, the pts LOVE to tell you all about their families and their lives. Work fast, work efficiently, and make sure that you have eveything you will need for that procedure before you begin. I can tell you from experience, you will take a very long time if you don't gather everything first. Good luck!!