Washing patient's hair!!!

Blueberries · Dec 11, 2011

Thanks for your replies!!! I will try out some of these methods. :)

ORoxyO · Dec 11, 2011

I use a clean disposable bedpan. The seat portion fits nicely under the patient's neck for support and there is plenty of room to catch the water. Of course I still make a little mess but I plan on changing the linens afterwards so it works out.

sethmctenn · Dec 11, 2011

I use 2 pads that are normally placed under the patient. I fold it into a J shape with the bottom part of the J under their neck like a cervical pillow. The water will collect in the loop of the pad. You can place a yankauer into the fold. Use a toomey syringe filled with hot water to rinse. The yankauer sucks up the water. It's a no mess method. I can usually do it without even having to change the sheets afterward if they are already clean.

merlee · Dec 11, 2011

There are also some dry shampoos on the market, and I am surprised at how well they work.

rr82080 · Dec 11, 2011

Yeah what was the point of this reply? Just to prove you're nasty? Would you treat people in person like this? I find it funny how people on message boards think they can say whatever they want because they are essentially anonymous.. Also, really, if you had nothing to contribute the post was only a few sentences. I'm sure it did not waste more than 15 seconds of your day..

One thousand kudos!

PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2011

I use a clean disposable bedpan. The seat portion fits nicely under the patient's neck for support and there is plenty of room to catch the water. Of course I still make a little mess but I plan on changing the linens afterwards so it works out.

I do this too... I grab a bed pan, never thought about using a clean bedpan though. I'm totally joking. I couldn't resist.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2011

diluted poor quality shampoo without conditioner might make my hair a lot worse than leaving in greasy. my hospital doesn't even carry shampoo on a regualr basis. occasionally a sample or two will pop up randomly. we carry shampoo caps that seem to only work for fine hair, or very short hair.

LobotRN, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2011

That yankauer trick is cool! Putting that one on my list of "what to do when you need to......"

CompleteUnknown · Dec 11, 2011

I put a pillow folded in half under the patient's back so his/her head can be lifted just enough to put the basin under it. I shampoo and then rinse with warm water. You barely get the sheets wet. (Obviously, if the patient can be put in this position.) Nothing beats shampoo and water!

I either do what Kiwi said, or use the old fashioned plastic bag and bucket system.

Take the head of the bed off and position the patient as close as possible to the top of the bed. Put a large plastic bag or sheet of plastic (heavy duty is best) under their shoulders and arrange it so the other end of the bag is sitting in a bucket or dish on the floor or on a chair (you have to pull the bed away from the wall a bit). Wash and rinse hair as usual - the water will flow down onto/through the bag and into the bucket. Put a couple of towels under the plastic at the sides to make a bit of a ledge so the water goes down rather than sideways.

Works really well and a lot more complicated to describe than to actually do. With a bit of practice you'll hardly get a drop of water on the sheets and it's kinder to the patient's neck. If the patient can't lie flat or with only one pillow, just position the plastic bag so that it runs down the back of the pillows and into the dish. You usually spill a bit more water that way but it still works. :)

ETA: Forgot to say that this is particulary good for anyone whose hair is shoulder length or longer, you can use enough water to really rinse the shampoo out properly.

Ruthiegal · Dec 11, 2011

I just opened this discussion to see what was so important about the subject line to merit three exlamations points. As I suspect nothing at all.

Do you also eat your nursing young???? be nice.

Daisy_08, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2011

The caps work well, and the tubs for long hair and hang out off the bed and drain into a bucket. But one the easiest ways is to grab a a soaker pad and diaper/tenna/inc. product (whatever your facility calls them). The diaper absorbs all the water, I think its great if the hair is not too long.

CompleteUnknown · Dec 11, 2011

The caps work well, and the tubs for long hair and hang out off the bed and drain into a bucket. But one the easiest ways is to grab a a soaker pad and diaper/tenna/inc. product (whatever your facility calls them). The diaper absorbs all the water, I think its great if the hair is not too long.

Now that's a good idea, hadn't thought of that!