Complete or Partial Bed Bath

Procedure 1 2 3 4 5
1. Perform hand hygiene, apply new clean gloves.
2. Raise bed to working height, lower side rail
and assist patient to appropriate position.
3. Place bath blanket over patient, remove top
sheet while patient hold blanket and place
soiled linen in laundry bag.
4. Remove patient’s gown or pajamas:
a. Unsnap sleeves to remove gown
b. Begin removal on unaffected side if an
extremity was injured.
c. Remove gown properly if patient have IV
line and gown has no snaps.
5. Raise side rail, position bed at appropriate
height while filling basin with warm water,
position basin and supplies on over-bed table,
have the patient check water temperature
6. Lower side rail, remove pillow of allowed, raise
head of bed appropriately, place towel under
patient’s head and over chest.
7. Wash face:
a. Ask if patient was wearing contact lenses,
remove if appropriate.
b. Form mitt with washcloth, immerse in
water and wrung out thoroughly
c. Wash patient’s eyes properly, use clean
area of cloth for each eye, soak crusts on
eyelids before attempting removal and dry
eyes.
d. Ask if patient preferred soap on face;
wash, rinse and dry face and neck; ask
male patient if he wanted to be shaved.
e. Provide eye care for unconscious patient.
1. Instill eyedrops or ointment if ordered
2. Keep eyelids closed in absence of blink
reflex, close eye before placing eye
patch or shield, do not tape eye
8. Wash upper extremities and trunk, change
bathwater if necessary:
a. Remove bath blanket from patient’s arm
closest to you, place bath towel lengthwise
underarm, bath properly with water and
soap.
b. Raise and support arm, wash and dry
axilla, apply deodorant if appropriate.
c. Move to other side of the bed, repeat
steps with the other arm.
d. Cover patient’s chest with bath towel, fold
bath blanket down to umbilicus, bath
chest properly, rinse and dry as well.
9. Wash hands and nails:
a. Fold bath towel on bed, place basin on
towel, allow hand to soak before cleaning
nails, dry hand well, repeat on the other
side.
10. Check temperature of bathwater, change
water if necessary.
11. Wash abdomen:
a. Place bath towel over chest and abdomen,
fold bath blanket down to just above pubic
region; bath, rinse and dry abdomen; pay
attention to skinfolds; dry well.
12. Wash lower extremities:
a. Cover chest and abdomen with the bath
blanket, expose near leg by folding blanket
toward midline, ensure other leg and
perineum remain draped, place towel
under leg.
b. Wash led properly; assess for signs of
redness, swelling or leg pain.
c. Cleanse the foot, make sure to bath
between toes, clean and file nails, dry the
foot.
d. Raise side rail, move to opposite side,
repeat steps to wash other leg, apply
lotion to both feet, remove towel.
e. Cover patient with bath blanket, raise side
rail, change bathwater.
13. Wash the back:
a. Apply clean gloves, lower side rail, assist
patient to proper position, place towel
along patient’s side.
b. Enclose any fecal matter in toilet tissue,
remove with disposable wipes.
c. Keep patient draped by sliding bath
blanket over shoulders and thighs during
bathing; wash, rinse and dry back properly,
pay attention to folds of buttocks and
anus.
d. Cleanse buttock and anus; wash front to
back; cleanse, rinse and dry areas
thoroughly; place clean absorbent pad
under patient’s buttock if needed.
14. Provide perineal care while patient is supine.
15. Massage patient’s back if desired.
16. Apply body lotion and topical moisturizing
agents to skin.
17. Remove and dispose gloves, perform hand
hygiene before helping patient finish
grooming.
18. Replace top linen before removing bath
blanket, apply gloves if linen is soiled, make a
bed if appropriate.
19. Place bed in low locked position, raise side
rails appropriately, ensure patient is
comfortable with call light or personal
possessions within reach.
20. Disinfect, rinse and dry basin appropriately
21. Perform hand hygiene

Application of Moist Heat

Procedure 1 2 3 4 5
1. Provide privacy
2. Position patient in bed, keep affected body
part in proper alignment, expose body part to
be covered, drape patient as needed.
3. Perform hand hygiene, apply clean gloves
4. Place waterproof pad under patient if
appropriate
5. Prepare compress
a. Pour warm solution into container, use
sterile technique if needed.
b. Open gauze, use sterile technique if
needed
c. Add gauze to container of solution to
immerse gauze, use appropriate aseptic
technique.
6. Apply sterile or clean gloves as appropriate
7. Pick up one layer of gauze, wrung out excess
solution, apply to wound, avoid surrounding
skin.
8. Lift edge of gauze to assess redness
9. Pack gauze snugly if patient tolerate compress,
cover all wound surface with compress.
10. Cover moist compress with dry sterile dressing
and bath towel, pin or tie in place, remove and
dispose gloves, perform hand hygiene.
11. Keep in place for desired duration
12. Change warm compress using sterile
technique as ordered if heat pack was not
used.
13. Apply clean gloves; remove compress, reassess
wound and condition of skin, replace dry
sterile dressing.
14. Help patient to preferred comfortable
position.
15. Dispose equipment and soiled compress,
perform hand hygiene
16. Record and report pertinent information

Cold Application

Procedure 1 2 3 4 5
1. Provide privacy, perform hand hygiene and
apply clean gloves
2. Position patient properly, expose area to be
treated, drape patient with blanket.
3. Place towel or pad under area to be treated.
4. Apply cold compress
a. Place ice water in basin, test temperature
b. Submerge gauze into basin, wrung out
excess moisture
c. Apply compress to affected area, mold
over site.
d. Remove, remoisten and reapply to
maintain temperature as needed.
5. Apply ice pack or bag
a. Fill bag with water, secure cap, invert bag.
b. Empty water, fill bag properly with ice
chips and water
c. Express excess air from bag, secure bag
closure, wipe bag to dry.
d. Squeeze or kneed commercial ice pack
e. Wrapped pack or bag with towel, apply
over injury, secure with tape or gauze if
needed.
6. Apply commercial gel pack
a. Remove from freezer
b. Wrap in towel, apply over injury
c. Secure with tape or gauze if needed
7. Remove gloves, dispose of properly, perform
hand hygiene.
8. Check condition of the skin at appropriate
intervals:
a. Use extra caution if area is edematous,
assess site more often.
b. Stop if patient complains of burning
sensation or skin begin to feel numb.
9. Apply clean gloves, remove compress or pad at
appropriate time, dry any moisture.
10. Help patient in comfortable position
11. Remove and dispose of supplies, empty basin
and dry , dispose of soiled linens and gloves
and perform hand hygiene.