Bag Technique

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 its contents should be cleaned as often as possible, supplies replaced
and ready for use at any time.
3. The bag and its contents should be well protected from contact with any article in
the home of the patients. Consider the bag and its 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
o betadine
o 70% alcohol
o ophthalmic ointment (antibiotic)
o zephiran solution
o hydrogen peroxide
o spirit of ammonia
o acetic acid
o benedict’s solution
ACTIONS RATIONALE
1. Upon arriving at the client’s home, place To protect the bag from contamination.
the bag on the table or any flat surface lined
with paper lining, clean side 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 To make a non-contaminated work field or
and spread over work field or area. The area.
paper lining, clean side out (folded part out).
4. Take out hand towel, soap dish and apron To prepare for handwashing.
and the place them at one corner of 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 a from one care provider to the client.
soap dish in the bag.
6. Put on apron right side out and wrong To protect the nurses’ uniform. Keeping the
side with crease touching the body, sliding crease creates aesthetic appearance.
the head into the neck strap. Neatly tie the
straps at the back.
7. Put out things most needed for the To make them readily accessible.
specific case (e.g.) thermometer, kidney
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.
9. Close the bag. To give comfort and security, maintain
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 To be used as reference for future visit.
relevant to health care, taking anecdotal
notes preparatory to final reporting.
17. Make appointment for the next visit For follow-up care.
(either home or clinic), taking note of the
date, time and purpose.

Bag Technique

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

Special Considerations in the Use of the Bag

Contents of the Bag

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