BAG TECHNIQUE

Definition:
The bag technique is a tool by which the nurse, during her visit, will enable her
to perform a nursing procedure with ease and deftness, to save time and effort with the
end view of rendering effective nursing care to clients.

Goal:
To prevent contamination of bag and equipment, avoid cross-infection, and
establish a clean work area.

Protect patients, family members, and healthcare workers from the spread of
infection.

Equipment:

 Paper lining
 Extra paper for making waste bag
 Plastic/linen lining
 Apron
 Hand towel
 Soap in a soap dish
 Thermometers (oral and rectal)
 2 pairs of scissors (surgical and bandage)
 2 pairs of forceps (curved and straight)
 Disposable syringes with needles (g. 23 & 25)
 Hypodermic needles (g. 19, 22, 23, 25)
 Sterile dressing
 Cotton balls
 Cord clamp
 Micropore plaster
 Tape measure
 1 pair of sterile gloves
 Baby’s scale
 Alcohol lamp
 2 test tubes
 Test tube holders
 Solutions of:
o Betadine
o 70% alcohol
o Zephiran solution
o Hydrogen peroxide
o Spirit of ammonia
o Ophthalmic ointment
o Acetic acid
o Benedict’s solution

Note: BP apparatus and stethoscope are carried separately and are never
placed in the bag.

STEPS RATIONALE
Upon arrival at the patient’s home, place To protect the bag from getting
the bag on the table lined with a clean contaminated.
paper. The clean side must be out and
the folder part, touching the table
Ask for a basing of water or a glass of
drinking water if tap water is not To be used for hand washing.
available.
Open the bag and take out the towel and
To prepare for hand washing.
soap.
Wash hands using soap and water, wipe To prevent infection from the care
to dry. provider to the client.
Take out the apron from the bag and put
To protect the nurse’s uniform.
it on with the right side
Put out all the necessary articles needed
To have them readily accessible
for the specific care.
Close the bag and put it in one corner of
To prevent contamination
the working area.
Proceed in performing the necessary To give comfort and security and hasten
nursing care treatment. recovery
After giving the treatment, clean all
To protect the caregiver and prevent
things that were used and perform hand
infection
washing.
Open the bag and return all things that were used in their proper places after
cleaning them
Open the bag and return all things that Open the bag and return all things that
were used in their proper places after were used in their proper places after
cleaning them cleaning them
Fold the lining, place it inside the bag and close the bag
Take the record and have a talk with the mother. Write down all the necessary data
that were gathered, observations, nursing care and treatment rendered. Give
instructions for care of patients in the absence of the nurse.
Make appointment for the next visit
(either home or clinic) taking note of the For follow-up care
date and time.
SKILLS CHECKLISTS

Name:__________________________________________ Date:_________
Clinical Instructor/ Evaluator: _____________________________________

BAG TECHNIQUE

STEPS DONE NOT DONE

1. Upon arrival at the patient’s home, place the bag on the
table lined with a clean paper. The clean side must be out
and the folder part, touching the table

2. Ask for a basing of water or a glass of drinking water if tap

water is not available.

3. Open the bag and take out the towel and soap.

4. Wash hands using soap and water, wipe to dry.

5. Take out the apron from the bag and put it on with the right
side

6. Put out all the necessary articles needed for the specific care.

7. Close the bag and put it in one corner of the working area.
8. Proceed in performing the necessary nursing care treatment.

9. After giving the treatment, clean all things that were used and
perform hand washing.

10. Open the bag and return all things that were used in their
proper places after cleaning them

11. Open the bag and return all things that were used in their
proper places after cleaning them

12. Fold the lining, place it inside the bag and close the bag

13. Take the record and have a talk with the mother. Write
down all the necessary data that were gathered,
observations, nursing care and treatment rendered. Give
instructions for care of patients in the absence of the nurse.

14. Make appointment for the next visit (either home or clinic)
taking note of the date and time.

________________________ __________________________________
Student’s Signature Clinical Instructor/Evaluator’s Signature

BENEDICT’S TEST
Definition:
Detecting the presence of glucose and determining the sugar level in the urine
while in the community health setting.

Goal:
To detect the presence of reducing sugar in the sample solution

Equipment:
 Benedict’s qualities reagent
 Test tube
 Alcohol lamp
 Droppers (2 pieces)
 Urine (Early morning, mid-stream flow)
 Match

STEPS RATIONALE
Identify the household of the client Ensures correct patient
Greet the client or household member Establish rapport with the household
and introduce yourself
Explain the purpose of the home visit Ensures the member of the household to
gain trust and confidence and
cooperation
1. Place the paper lining clean side out on To protect the bag and the contents from
a table or any clean, flat surface away getting contaminated.
from the client.

2. Spread the plastic lining over the paper Creates a clean and non-contaminated
lining, and clean side in. field

3. Place the bag in the area away from To protect the bag from contamination
the client, tucking handles beneath the
bag.

4. Open the bag; take out soap in dish, Prepare materials for handwashing
towel and apron
5. Do thorough hand washing. Dry hands, Prevents transmission of microorganism
place soap/dish and towel near the bag.

6. Put on apron, right side out. Provides an additional layer of protection

to the front of the body against exposure
to body fluids or excrement from the
patient.
Prepare materials for Benedict’s Test
7. Take out the kidney basin and place 3 For disinfecting the materials.
cotton balls with alcohol.

8. Take out 2 droppers, a test tube and Prepare materials for the test
holder, and place these in the
kidney basin. Take out the alcohol lamp,
match. Benedict’s solution and place
them on the work area.

9. Place the waste receptacle at one For proper disposal of waste and or
corner of the work area. hazardous waste and to avoid
contamination of the clean field.
10. Light the lamp. In preparation of heating the test tube
with the solution
11. Place 6-8 drops of urine in the test Creating the mixture
tube.
12. Add 3-5 ml. Of Benedict’s solution  to
the urine
13.Used droppers should be placed near To avoid contaminating the clean flied
the waste receptacle.
14.Pass the test tube with mixture over Move the test tube back and forth over
the flame, mouth of the TT should be the flame to evenly distribute the heat.
away from you and the client.
15.Interpret See interpretation
Explain the Interpretation Explain the significance of the findings
and give appropriate health teaching
Document to provide
Prepare materials for Benedict’s Test
16. Wash the TT, TT holder and droppers To clean and eliminate leftover or
with soap and water. Drain,place them in precipitate from the procedure. Draining
the work area. and drying the used materials prevent
growth of microorganisms.
17. Disinfect the kidney basin, TT, TT Disinfecting the used materials with CB
holder  and droppers with 3 pieces of CR with alcohol minimizes surface
with alcohol, Discard 2CB. Place  the microorganisms which lowers risk of
articles inside the kidney basin(Save the spreading infection
last CB with alcohol)
18. With one CB with alcohol, disinfect
the lamp and the plastic lining.
19. Discard the waste receptacle. Proper waste disposal of used material
minimizes spreading of disease
20. Do thorough hand washing. Dry Drying the used materials prevent growth
Hands with the towel. of microorganisms.
21. Return all articles in their proper Promotes ease access of equipments.
places in the bag.
22. Remove apron away from the body, To
folding contaminated part in. Place over
the flaps of the bag.
23. Fold the plastic lining contaminated
part in. Place over the flaps of the bag.
24. Hold the bag with one hand, and with
the other hand fold the paper lining ,
contaminated part in. Place over the
plastic lining.
Close the bag.
25. Make appointment for the next visit
(either home or clinic) taking note of the
date and time.

Interpretation:

Shade of Approx. Concentration of

Indication
Color Reducing Sugar (in g%) 

Blue 0 No reducing sugar

Green Trace reducing

< 0.5
solution sugar

Trace reducing
Green ppt. 0.5 – 1
sugar

Low reducing
Yellow ppt. 1 -1.5
sugar

Orange-red Moderate reducing

1.5 – 2
ppt. sugar

Brick-red High reducing

>2
ppt. sugar
SKILLS CHECKLISTS

Name:__________________________________________ Date:_________
Clinical Instructor/ Evaluator: _____________________________________

STEPS DONE NOT DONE

1. Place the paper lining clean side out on a table or any clean, flat
surface away from the client.

2. Spread the plastic lining over the paper lining, clean side in.

3. Place the bag in the area away from the client, tucking handles
beneath the bag.

4. Open the bag; take out soap in dish, towel and apron
5. Do thorough hand washing. Dry hands, place soap/dish and
towel near the bag.

6. Put on apron, right side out.

7. Take out the kidney basin and place 3 cotton balls with alcohol.

8. Take out 2 droppers, a test tube and holder, and place these in
the kidney basin. Take out the alcohol lamp, match .Benedict’s
sol’n and place them on the work area.

9. Place the waste receptacle at one corner of the work area.

10. Light the lamp.

11. Place 6-8 drops of urine in the test tube.
12. Add 3-5 ml. Of Benedict’s solution  to the urine

13.Used droppers should be placed near the waste receptacle.

14.Pass the test tube with mixture over the flame, mouth of the
TT should be away from you and the client.
15.Interpret
16. Wash the TT, TT holder and droppers with soap and water.
Drain,place them in the work area.

17. Disinfect the kidney basin, TT, TT holder  and droppers with 3

pieces of CR with alcohol, Discard 2CB. Place  the articles inside
the kidney basin(Save the last CB with alcohol)
18. With one CB with alcohol, disinfect the lamp and the plastic
lining.
19. Discard the waste receptacle.
20. Do thorough hand washing. Dry Hands with the towel.
21. Return all articles in their proper places in the bag.
22. Remove apron away from the body, folding contaminated part
in. Place over the flaps of the bag.
23. Fold the plastic lining contaminated part in. Place over the
flaps of the bag.
24. Hold the bag with one hand, and with the other hand fold the
paper lining , contaminated part in. Place over the plastic lining.
Close the bag.
25. Make appointment for the next visit (either home or clinic)
taking note of the date and time.

________________________ __________________________________
Student’s Signature Clinical Instructor/Evaluator’s Signature