Perineal care approach

[SaraO'Hara]

I and my CNA class will start to give partial bed baths on Monday - this is apparently everything above the hips, plus perineal area.

How does one approach a resident for this sort of thing? The rest of it would be easy enough... "I'm going to wash your arm now - could you please lift it a little so I can put the towel under?" What on earth would you say about perineal care? "I'm going to wash your privates - I'll be quick about it"?

[htrn]

Be matter of fact and professional. I wouldn't recommend using 'privates' - either bottom or perineum.

[smilin_gp]

I would imagine that most of the residents are used to bed baths, though out of respect, they should still be kept as covered as possible and be asked for permission. I would think that "I am going to help wash your (actual name of body part) now, is that okay?".

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I say bottom, butt, between the legs, around your foley, or privates. I rarely say perineum as it's not a word most people use. Or I say the body part.

Odds are this is not the first bed bath this person has recieved and isn't likely going to think much about it.

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

I agree with the above posters and would like to add: What helped me alot is the fact that I'm such a chatter box. I was always to busy chatting with the pt and explaining what I was going to do next, so the fact/issue that I was washing the perianal area wasn't a big deal. It just kind of flowed in with the rest of the bath. Good luck - you'll do fine.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Hand the patient the washcloth and tell them, "wash between your legs for me."

I'm from northeastern Ohio. We called their rear end doopas, especially if the patient was of Polish background.

[SaraO'Hara]

I know to have them wash if they're A & O and capable of doing so, but many, many of the residents suffer dementia or physical debility.

[thsnursluvsgeriatric]

It does become very much a part of routine care giving. It seems that almost every resident accepts perianal care easily, it probably helps when the nurse is at ease about and with the process. You'll find that what you say depends on the person you are helping, bottom is something I say and here other nursing staff saying.

Most times in Geriatric care you will need to do the washing as mentioned before. When you do have higher functioning residents ask to put their clothing in the laundry. This provides an opportunity, many times early signs of problems can be recognized by discharge, spotting, and mild incontinence allowing for earlier investigation.

[SaraO'Hara]

After 3 days of being out on the floor - I just do it now. It doesn't bug me at all. Thanks, everybody!