Principles, Contents, and Steps

Belen G. Delos Trinos

Clinical Instructor

The Bag Technique

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.

The Public Health Bag

The public health bag is an essential and

indispensable equipment of a public health nurse which she has to carry along during her home visits. It contains basic medication and articles which are necessary for giving care.

Principles of bag technique

1. Performing the bag technique will minimize, if not totally prevent the spread of any infection. 2. It saves time and effort in the performance of nursing procedures. 3. The bag technique should show the effectiveness of total care given to an individual or family. 4. The bag technique can be performed in a variety of ways depending on the agencys policy, the

home situation, or as long as principles of avoiding transfer of infection is always observed.

Important points to consider in the use of the bag

1. The bag should contain all the necessary articles, supplies and equipments that will be used to answer the emergency needs
2. The bag and its contents should be cleaned very often, the supplies replaced, and ready for use anytime.

Important points to consider in the use of the bag (cont)

3. The bag and its contents should be well protected from contact with any article in the patients home. Consider the bag and its contents clean and sterile, while articles that belong to the patients as dirty and contaminated.
4. The arrangement of the contents of the bag should be the one most convenient to the user, to facilitate efficiency and avoid confusion.

Contents of the public health bag

Arranged from bottom to top:

Sterile gloves 2. Clean white apron in plastic bag (an extra apron to replace the first after attending a morbid case) 3. Sterile instruments
1.

2 kelly forceps (straight/curved) 1 mayo scissors Thumb or tissue forceps

Contents of the public health bag (cont)

4. Bandage pack (all in plastic bag) top dressing (4x4 gauze pad) cotton balls cotton tip applicators cord ties or clamps tongue depressors plaster (micropore) bandage scissors syringes/needles 5. Kidney basin placed upside down 6. Clean white apron in plastic bag

Contents of the public health bag (cont)

5. Hand towel - white 6. Towel lining - white 7. Paper lining

Inner pocket (from left to right) 1. Liquid soap 2. Alcohol 70% 3. Ophthalmic ointment 4. Sulfosalysylic acid 10% or acetic acid 5. Benedicts solution 6. Lysol 7. Betadine

Contents of the public health bag (cont)

Front pocket
1.

2.

Cornocopia Small paper lining Digital thermometer Weighing scale Tape measure

Left pocket
1.

2.
3.

Right pocket
1. 2. 3. 4.

Test tubes - 2 Test tube holder Medicine dropper Alcohol lamp

Contents of the public health bag (cont)

Top cover of the bag: clip paper with
1. 2.

Names of families to be visited (prioritize case to be visited, clean case first) Addresses

Inside cover flap

1.
2.

Family records( HBMR, GROWTH CHART, Forms ( Birth Certificate

NOTE: When walking, hold the bag with the opening towards the body. To facilitate opening of the bag.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

1. Introduces self to the client and states the purpose of the visit. 2. Holds the bag with the non-dominant hand and retrieves the paper lining from the bag using the dominant hand.

To gain trust and cooperation.

Provides ease in retrieving the paper lining while holding the bag. The paper lining provides a clean work field.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

3. Sets the paper lining on a The side of the lining that table or any flat surface with the touches the table is clean side out (outer folds considered contaminated. touching the surface/table) using the dominant hand. 4. Positions the bag on top of the paper lining while securing the bags handles or strap beneath the bag. Protects the bag from contamination. Keeping the straps of the bag out of the way will facilitate ease in retrieving materials from the bag.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

5. Obtains and sets-up a basin of water (when faucet is not available) outside the working area.

To be used for handwashing. To protect the work field from being wet.

6. Opens the bag, retrieves the To make a non-contaminated towel lining and spreads it over work-field area. the working area, clean side out (outer folds touching the table/surface and inner folds up).

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

7. Retrieves the hand towel, In preparation for hand soap and apron from the bag washing. and places them at one corner within the confines of the paper lining.

8. Leaves towel and soap wrappers inside the bag.

To prevent crosscontamination.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

9. Performs proper hand washing. 10. Dries hands with the hand towel.

To prevent spread of microorganisms.

11. Puts the hand towel and Readily accessible for use soap back in the same corner of after performing a procedure. the working area.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

12. Dons the apron right side out sliding the head into the neck strap then neatly tying the apron strap at the back.

To protect the nurses uniform.

13. Retrieves materials needed To make them readily for the specific case from the accessible while performing a bag (e.g. thermometer, cotton procedure. balls, paper bag) and sets these items at the working area within the confines of the towel lining.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

14. Places the waste disposal bag outside the working area.

To prevent contamination of clean area.

15. Closes the bag.

To prevent contamination of bag and its contents.

16. Performs the specific nursing care or treatment.

To give comfort and security, maintain personal hygiene and hasten recovery.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

17. When care or treatment is completed, cleans and alcoholizes materials used.

To protect caregiver and prevent spread of infection to others.

18. Performs proper hand washing.

To prevent spread of microorganisms.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

19. Dries hands with hand Aftercare towel, places the towel and soap back at the same corner of the working area. 20. Opens the bag and returns To maintain orderliness in the the materials in the bag, bag. properly arranging these in their respective designated places.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

21. Folds the hand towel (soiled side folded inwards). 22. Places the hand towel and soap inside the bag. 23. Folds the towel lining (soiled side folded inwards).

Prevents contamination of other contents of the bag.

Prevents contamination of the other contents of the bag.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

24. Returns the towel lining in the bag.

25. Removes apron folding it Prevents contamination and away from the body (soiled side spread of microorganisms. folded inwards).
26. Places the apron inside the bag.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

27. Closes the bag. 28. Carries the bag on the nondominant arm.

29. Folds the paper lining (clean side folded inwards) using the dominant hand.

Steps in Performing the Bag Technique Action

ACTIONS RATIONALE

30. Inserts the paper lining in the bag flap. 31. Provides the client with information relevant to health care and schedules the next appointment (home or clinic) noting the date, time and purpose of the next visit.

Aftercare. Used as reference for future visits. For follow-up and continuity of care.

Evaluation and documentation 1. Record all relevant findings about the client and members of the family. 2. Take note of environmental factors which affect the clients/family health. 3. Include quality of nurse-client relationship. 4. Assess effectiveness of nursing care provided.