Question regarding lack of bed bath in ICU

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Hi, everyone. I'm a first year nursing student and I know basically nothing about the nursing process. I've had a terrible start to my first semester. The night of my first day of class my husband ingested an entire bottle of tylenol. I called an ambulance and he was later admitted to the ICU. He was there from Monday night through today (Thursday). On Tuesday morning I went to visit him and he was sleeping the whole time. He woke once and vomited on himself. The nurses changed his sheets. The next day he woke and still had an IV but they had removed his NG tube. He was awake and aware. That night (Wednesday) he soiled himself twice through the night. Same thing, nurses changed his bedding. Thursday they removed his IV and he was later discharged.

My question is....why was he not given a bed bath? Is that a normal thing in these circumstances? I ask from two viewpoints, that of a student who is curious about typical procedures and that of a wife who is a little annoyed at the lack of attention.

Thoughts?

Some ICUs give baths on the night shift. If a patient gets soiled during the day, we clean the area and change the sheets, but the full bed baths are given overnight. I tend to agree with the others that an ICU stay is very overwhelming and stressful, and maybe the nurses have been bathing him but he just doesn't remember. You could always ask the nurses in a non-accusing way. If they are good nurses, I'm sure they'd be happy to share how they care for your husband.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

As an ICU nurse I can tell you that several times I have had the same patient three nights in a row and bathed them every night, and THEN on the third night had them tell me during the bath, "Thank you so much for bathing me. I haven't had a bath since I got here!" These were not always sedated/intubated patients. I'm not sure why this happens. If you weren't in your husband's room 24/7, do not assume that he never got a bath.

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As an ICU nurse I can tell you that several times I have had the same patient three nights in a row and bathed them every night, and THEN on the third night had them tell me during the bath, "Thank you so much for bathing me. I haven't had a bath since I got here!" These were not always sedated/intubated patients. I'm not sure why this happens. If you weren't in your husband's room 24/7, do not assume that he never got a bath.

This is probably what happened. As attentive as they were in other areas, I can't see them being inattentive here.

Thanks for the well wishes from those who gave them.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Some facilities use Not Just A Bed Bath ! --premoistened towelets used for bathing instead of basin, soap and water.

Best wishes moving forward...especially with nursing school.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

I do think bed baths get missed. They shouldnt though because it really only takes 20 minutes but the thought of doing it seems so much more overwhelming.

A lot of times I think it's just that we have to prioritize stabilizing the patient. Remember that ICU nurses usually dont have aides and can still be just as busy.

I work nights and make it a point to bathe my disoriented, comatose, sedated patients, and let the more cognizant ones sleep and bathe during day shift.

Im sure he got at least some sort of bed bath (one so quick that it may not have been remembered by your husband as one) when he became dirty.

Wishing you and your family all the best...

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Hi, everyone. I'm a first year nursing student and I know basically nothing about the nursing process. I've had a terrible start to my first semester. The night of my first day of class my husband ingested an entire bottle of tylenol. I called an ambulance and he was later admitted to the ICU. He was there from Monday night through today (Thursday). On Tuesday morning I went to visit him and he was sleeping the whole time. He woke once and vomited on himself. The nurses changed his sheets. The next day he woke and still had an IV but they had removed his NG tube. He was awake and aware. That night (Wednesday) he soiled himself twice through the night. Same thing, nurses changed his bedding. Thursday they removed his IV and he was later discharged.

My question is....why was he not given a bed bath? Is that a normal thing in these circumstances? I ask from two viewpoints, that of a student who is curious about typical procedures and that of a wife who is a little annoyed at the lack of attention.

Thoughts?

This is someone who attempted to end his life, right? And the nurses and doctors saved his life, right? He was cleaned when he pupped, and when he peed and vomited, right? Well, I think you should send the nurses a thank you note for saving his life. And for your info, I don't believe bathing pt is a priority in ICU.

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Specializes in PACU, OR.
This is someone who attempted to end his life, right? And the nurses and doctors saved his life, right? He was cleaned when he pupped, and when he peed and vomited, right? Well, I think you should send the nurses a thank you note for saving his life. And for your info, I don't believe bathing pt is a priority in ICU.

Relax. The OP did acknowledge her probable mistake. She also praised the nurses who took care of her husband.

OP, good luck with your studies, and I hope both of you can sort out the issues that led to this awful incident, and that nothing like it ever happens again.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiac, EMS.
This is someone who attempted to end his life, right? And the nurses and doctors saved his life, right? He was cleaned when he pupped, and when he peed and vomited, right? Well, I think you should send the nurses a thank you note for saving his life. And for your info, I don't believe bathing pt is a priority in ICU.

And not for nothing, but yes, it is. Bathing reduces the incidence of BSI, improves skin circulation and therefore reduces pressure ulcer prevalence, provides the opportunity for a complete skin assessment which is done at least once daily, and allows for linen and line management. It is an ICU priority, it is evidence based practice, and I can promise you that unless there is compelling reason to the contrary, it happens on every patient in our cardiac surgical ICU.

Please be cautious as to the tone that might come across in your replies - it may not always indicate what you think it indicates, since tone of voice and facial expressions cannot be conveyed easily by text on a computer screen. Often what we type seems much harsher than what we intend to say.

Just my :twocents:.

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Baths in the ICU, some truths.

* The bath (or turning therein) many times is the impetus for an acute event.

* Even though the above is true, code brown is usurped in importance only by code blue, or an acute event.

* 99% of patients in the ICU require some sort of "cleaning" intervention at least once per shift or twice a day.

Your husband fell into the last two categories. And as you experienced, there was much more going on behind the scenes to preserve his well being. Ironically, it is the non-apparent interventions usually unnoticed by family that are most important.

Best wishes.

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This is someone who attempted to end his life, right? And the nurses and doctors saved his life, right? He was cleaned when he pupped, and when he peed and vomited, right? Well, I think you should send the nurses a thank you note for saving his life. And for your info, I don't believe bathing pt is a priority in ICU.

Is this serious? :eek: Or did your teenage child hijack your computer? :confused: I could be wrong, but, it sounds like some-one is due for a break from the industry...I have to say this might be the most insensitive post I have ever read on this site. I know as nurses we have to have thick skin, but this takes it to the limit. I can only hope that this is not how you approach your patient/family teaching in the work place. I would be very interested to know where you practice, so I can avoid getting ill in that area...... BTW, pupped is pooped! :mad::mad::mad:

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Patients and families still believe that when a patient is in the hospital and especially intensive care, all they do is lay in bed. There can be a great deal of surprise and consternation when ICU patients are gotten OOB and made mobile. It's plausible that your husband was showered or set up to bathe while sitting in a chair, but felt that a bed bath was his due. He may be relating disappointment and not actual neglect.

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I don't want to dwell on this tiny issue since I can't possibly have all the facts and the truth is that where it counted they excelled. I don't mean to sound ungrateful.

This. Someday when you've graduated, you're going to have a day where you give your all, and patients are all better off for it. And the only response you'll get from patients and families? "Why didn't you do this or that?"

As someone said, the important thing is that he's still here to complain about not getting a bath.

Ugh, my emotions are still just really all over the place.

Completely understandable. You and your husband probably both need some counseling. For you, it's likely your school will have some available.

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