Bag Technique - A Tool Making Use of Public Health Bag Through Which The

Bag technique – a tool making use of public health bag through which the

nurse, during his/her home visit, can perform nursing procedures with ease
and deftness, saving time and effort with the end in view of rendering effective
nursing care.
Public health bag – is an essential and indispensable equipment of the public
health nurse which he/she has to carry along when he/she goes out home
visiting. It contains basic medications and articles which are necessary for
giving care.
Rationale
To render effective nursing care to clients and /or members of the family
during home visit.

Principles
1. The use of the bag technique should minimize if not totally prevent the spread of
infection from individuals to families, hence, to the community.
2. Bag technique should save time and effort on the part of the nurse in the
performance of nursing procedures.
3. Bag technique should not overshadow concern for the patient rather should show
the effectiveness of total care given to an individual or family.
4. Bag technique can be performed in a variety of ways depending upon agency
policies, actual home situation, etc., as long as principles of avoiding transfer of
infection is carried out.
Special Considerations in the Use of the Bag
1. The bag should contain all necessary articles, supplies and equipment which may
be used to answer emergency needs.
2. The bag and it’s contents should be cleaned as often as possible, supplies replaced
and ready for use at any time.
3. The bag and it’s contents should be well protected from contact with any article in
the home of the patients. Consider the bag and it’s contents clean and /or sterile
while any article belonging to the patient as dirty and contaminated.
4. The arrangement of the contents of the bag should be the one most convenient to
the user to facilitate the efficiency and avoid confusion.
5. Hand washing is done as frequently as the situation calls for, helps in minimizing
or avoiding contamination of the bag and its contents.
6. The bag when used for a communicable case should be thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected before keeping and re-using.
Contents of the Bag
 Paper lining
 Extra paper for making bag for waste materials (paper bag)
 Plastic linen/lining
 Apron
 Hand towel in plastic bag
 Soap in soap dish
 Thermometers in case [one oral and rectal]
 2 pairs of scissors [1 surgical and 1 bandage]
 2 pairs of forceps [ curved and straight]
 Syringes [5 ml and 2 ml]
 Hypodermic needles g. 19, 22, 23, 25
 Sterile dressings [OS, C.B]
 Sterile Cord Tie
 Adhesive Plaster
 Dressing [OS, cotton ball]
 Alcohol lamp
 Tape Measure
 Baby’s scale
 1 pair of rubber gloves
 2 test tubes
 Test tube holder
 Medicines
 betadine
 70% alcohol
 ophthalmic ointment (antibiotic)
 zephiran solution
 hydrogen peroxide
 spirit of ammonia
 acetic acid
 benedict’s solution
Note: Blood Pressure Apparatus and Stethoscope are carried separately.
Steps/Procedures
Actions Rationale

1. Upon arriving at the client’s home,
place the bag on the table or any flat
surface lined with paper lining, clean side To protect the bag from contamination.
out (folded part touching the table). Put
the bag’s handles or strap beneath the bag.
2. Ask for a basin of water and a glass of

To be used for handwashing.
water if faucet is not available. Place these
To protect the work field from being wet.
outside the work area.
3. Open the bag, take the linen/plastic
lining and spread over work field or area. To make a non-contaminated work field or
The paper lining, clean side out (folded area.
part out).
4. Take out hand towel, soap dish and
apron and the place them at one corner of

To prepare for handwashing.
the work area (within the confines of the
linen/plastic lining).
5. Do handwashing. Wipe, dry with towel.
Handwashing prevents possible infection
Leave the plastic wrappers of the towel in
from one care provider to the client.
a soap dish in the bag.
6. Put on apron right side out and wrong
side with crease touching the body, sliding To protect the nurses’ uniform. Keeping
the head into the neck strap. Neatly tie the the crease creates aesthetic appearance.
straps at the back.
7. Put out things most needed for the
specific case (e.g.) thermometer, kidney

To make them readily accessible.
basin, cotton ball, waste paper bag) and
place at one corner of the work area.
8. Place waste paper bag outside of work

To prevent contamination of clean area.
area.
To give comfort and security, maintain

9. Close the bag.
personal hygiene and hasten recovery.
10. Proceed to the specific nursing care or To prevent contamination of bag and
treatment. contents.
11. After completing nursing care or

To protect caregiver and prevent spread of
treatment, clean and alcoholize the things
infection to others.
used.
12. Do handwashing again.
13. Open the bag and put back all articles
in their proper places.
14. Remove apron folding away from the
body, with soiled sidefolded inwards, and
the clean side out. Place it in the bag.

15. Fold the linen/plastic lining, clean;
place it in the bag and close the bag.
16. Make post-visit conference on matters
relevant to health care, taking anecdotal To be used as reference for future visit.
notes preparatory to final reporting.
17. Make appointment for the next visit (
either home or clinic), taking note of the For follow-up care.
date, time and purpose.
After Care
1. Before keeping all articles in the bag, clean and alcoholize them.
2. Get the bag from the table, fold the paper lining ( and insert), and place in
between the flaps and cover the bag.
Evaluation and Documentation

3. Record all relevant findings about the client and members of the family.
4. Take note of environmental factors which affect the clients/family health.
5. Include quality of nurse-patient relationship.
6. Assess effectiveness of nursing care provided

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Bag technique – a tool making use of public health bag through which the

1. Upon arriving at the client’s home,

place the bag on the table or any flat

out (folded part touching the table). Put

the bag’s handles or strap beneath the bag.

2. Ask for a basin of water and a glass of

3. Open the bag, take the linen/plastic

The paper lining, clean side out (folded area.

4. Take out hand towel, soap dish and

apron and the place them at one corner of

6. Put on apron right side out and wrong

straps at the back.

7. Put out things most needed for the

specific case (e.g.) thermometer, kidney

place at one corner of the work area.

8. Place waste paper bag outside of work

To give comfort and security, maintain

11. After completing nursing care or

12. Do handwashing again.

13. Open the bag and put back all articles

in their proper places.

14. Remove apron folding away from the

body, with soiled sidefolded inwards, and

the clean side out. Place it in the bag.

place it in the bag and close the bag.

16. Make post-visit conference on matters

notes preparatory to final reporting.

17. Make appointment for the next visit (

either home or clinic), taking note of the For follow-up care.

date, time and purpose.

Evaluation and Documentation

4. Take note of environmental factors which affect the clients/family health.

5. Include quality of nurse-patient relationship.

6. Assess effectiveness of nursing care provided

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