What About Post-Op Bathing?

[medtech000]

A few years ago my 40+ brother had an open cholecystectomy. He then spent five nights in the hospital. After his fourth night, when I visited, I couldn't help but notice his body odor. In response to my question, said he said he had been asking if he could take a shower, but the answer was no, not yet. Finally, on his last day, his drain and staples were removed and he was told he could now take a shower. He didn't bother because he was being discharged in a couple of hours, anyhow. Now I'm wondering why he was not given a bed bath or two during his stay, given the fact that he was not allowed to shower. Why not? Are baths no longer given to ambulatory post-op patients?

[Fiona59]

We do a quick post op sponge down.

Your brother should have been able to do a spot wash with a basin or at a sink in the bathroom. Total bed bath for a choli? Are you leaving out details like broken arms, he's a quad?

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

We do give baths daily for our dependent patients. For people who are usually independent in their ADLs, I'd ask if they wanted to wash up, then provide them with a basin, towels, soap.

[nurse4ever08]

Only bed bound dependent ones are given a sponge bath. People who walk are offered supplies to do a sink bath.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

Yes an open chole should be able to get up and wash, same way as he should of been up and walking. Did he ask his surgeon? That is really odd.......

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

If an ambulatory post-op patient wants a shower, and he/she is not a high fall risk, we cover the incision with transparent film and allow them to shower themselves. We hand them the towels, washcloth and soap, but otherwise allow the patient to do their own thing.

[firstinfamily, RN]

Most cases of a cholecystectomy, they are given the supplies and able to bath themselves at the sink. He really should not have been in the shower if his staples and dressings were still open(due to potential for contamination) But as long as he had use of his limbs he should have been able to bath. Did staff not give him the supplies? Unless he is totally dependent, then a bed bath would have been appropriate. He should have been able to bath himself with very limited assistance.

[medtech000]

I regret that I evidently left out some salient facts.

Op day he was stood up at his bedside but had orthostatic hypotension and had to recline again.

Same result later in the day. Day 2 he was weak, but could stand with assistance, no walking.

Day 3 he walked a few feet with a walker and assistance. Day 4 he was ambulatory, but not ad lib, but was not strong enough to "stand at the sink" and bathe himself. I should have included the details

the first time. I'm sorry if I misled some of you when I called him "ambulatory". He really wasn't.

[caliotter3]

I imagine if he would have insisted, based on the squeaky wheel syndrome, he could have received a sponge bath, or at least been provided the necessary supplies to do it himself. It is often those who are vocal that get more attention in the hospital setting.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I don't give bed baths to independent patients. I offer to help, they normally say no. I will usually set them up with everything they need, or if they have a spouse there I will encourage the spouse to help them get washed up. It's really embarrassing for them to have a stranger help them bathe, so I don't push it.

Out of curiosity, why didn't you offer to help him get washed up?

[Caffeine_IV]

I would have asked at that time if he could have supplies for a bed bath and he could have washed the essential areas. Was that option explored? Even with the further details, I don't think he needed someone to bathe him. However, we don't know the full story of his hospitalization.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I imagine if he would have insisted, based on the squeaky wheel syndrome, he could have received a sponge bath, or at least been provided the necessary supplies to do it himself. It is often those who are vocal that get more attention in the hospital setting.

When I worked in the hospital, I ALWAYS told all my patients that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and to be SURE to ring for me if they need something or I've forgotten something. I told them it was easy for me to get distracted by various tasks, but that I was there to help them and ringing for me would not be "bothering" me.

If OP's brother was my patient I would've just gone ahead and brought him the water basin, etc. and tell him, "As my mother always said, when we whined, 'Aw, do I have to take a bath? .... 'Face, feet, and fanny!'