BATHING AN ADULT
Definition:
It is a daily bath to a patient in bed.
Purposes:
1. To cleanse and refresh the patient.
2. To stimulate circulation.
3. To give the nurse an opportunity to observe the condition of the patient.
4. To assess the patient’s mental and emotional status.
Equipment:
 2 bath towels
 2 face towels or washcloth (1 for
soaping and the other for
rinsing)
 Soap in a soap dish
 2 Basins
PROCEDURE
1. Before beginning the bath, determine the
other care the client/patient is receiving
such as physiotherapy and aspects of
client’s health that affect bathing.
2. Assemble equipment.
3. Explain the procedure to the client.
4. Make sure the room is free from drafts by
closing windows and doors.
5. Provide privacy by drawing curtains of
closing doors.
6. Offer bedpan or urinal and ask whether the
patient wishes to use toilet or commode.
 Hygienic supplies (lotion, powder,
deodorant)
 Bath blanket
 Clean gown or pajamas
 Pitcher with warm water
 Additional linen
 Bedpan or urinal
RATIONALE
This is necessary so that the bath can be
coordinated with those activities to prevent
undue fatigue.
Saves time and ensures orderly and organized
carrying out of the procedure.
This allays anxiety and gains client’s
cooperation.
Air current increases the loss from the body by
convection.
Hygiene is a personal matter.
The patient will be more comfortable after
voiding, and voiding is advisable before
cleaning the perineum.
 PROCEDURE RATIONALE
7. Wash hands. To prevent transmission of microorganism to
the patient.

8. Place the bed in high position. To avoid undue strain on the nurse’s back.

9. Remove the top sheet, and replace it with If the top sheet is to be reused, place it over
a bath blanket. the bedside chair. If it is to be changed, place
it in the linen hamper.

10. Assist patient to move near you and To decrease need for reaching and avoid
position the patient for the bath (usually undue reaching and straining.
supine position). Place towel over the
pillow and one towel across the patient’s
chest.

11. Make a bath mitt with washcloth. A bath mitt retain water and heat better than
a. Triangular Method a cloth loosely held.
1. Lay hand on the washcloth.
2. Fold the top corner over your hand.
3. Fold the side corners over the hand.
4. Tuck the second corner under the
cloth on the palmar side to secure the
mitt.

b. Rectangular Method:
1. Lay hand on the washcloth, and fold
one side over hand.
2. Fold the second side over hand.
3. Fold the top of the cloth down, and
tuck it under the folded side against
your palm to secure the mitt.

12. Wash the patient’s eyes with water only Prevents crusts and microorganisms from
and dry well. Use a separate corner of the entering the nasolacrimal ducts and prevents
washcloth for each eye and wipe from the transmitting microorganisms from one eye to
inner to outer canthus. another.

13. Wash the patient’s face, neck, and ears. Soap has a drying effect.
Some patients may not want soap used in
their faces. Wash and rinse each part well.
Pat until dry with bath towel. Use gentle
but firm strokes.
 PROCEDURE RATIONALE
14. Remove the gown.

15. Expose the arm far from where you are
working and place a bath towel under it.
Wash it using a long firm stroke, distal to
proximal. Give special attention to the
axilla.
To avoid leaning over dripping dirty water on
the part that is already washed.
Bath towel protects the bed from becoming
wet.

Dry thoroughly. Repeat for the other arm. Firm strokes from distal to proximal increases
verous return.

16. Place towel directly to bed and put a basin Many client’s enjoy immersing their hands in
on top of it. Place patient’s hand in basin the basin and washing themselves.
and wash with soap and water. Keep it dry.

17. Fold bath blanket down to patient’s public Draping prevents unnecessary exposure of
area. Place the bath towel alongside the body parts. Towel maintains warmth and
chest and abdomen. Wash, rinse, and dry privacy. Secretions and dirt collect easily in
the chest using long firm strokes giving areas of tight skinfolds.
special attention to the skin fold under the
breasts. Keep the chest and abdomen
covered with the towel between the wash
and the rinse.

18. Wash the abdomen giving special attention Moisture and sediment that collect in skinfolds
to the umbilicus. Dry thoroughly in a predispose skin to maceration and irritation.
circular motion.

19. Inform patient of changing the water, Water should be changed as frequently as
cover the patient and obtain fresh bath possible.
water.

20. Expose the farther leg and thigh from To stimulate venous blood circulation.
where you are working and place the bath
towel under it. Use firm strokes from the
ankle to the knee and to the thigh. Pay
particular attention to the groin. Proceed in
the same manner with the other leg.
 PROCEDURE RATIONALE
21. Place the bath towel under both feet and
place basin in between. Wash both feet,
one at a time, giving particular attention to
the space between toes. Remove basin
from bed and dry both feet using bath
towel.

22. Inform patient to change water. Prevents transfer of microorganisms.

23. Assist the client to turn to a prone position Skinfolds near buttocks and anus may contain
facing away from you, and place the bath fecal secretions that harbor microorganisms.
towel lengthwise alongside the back to
buttocks. Wash and dry the back, buttocks,
and upper thighs paying particular
attention to gluteal folds. You may give a
backrub.

24. Assist the client to the supine position, and Many prefer to wash their own perineum if
determine ability to wash the genital they are able, because it is embarrassing to
perineal area. Drape patient properly, and have this done by another person.
instruct him how to wash it.

25. Assist patient to dress and comb the

patient’s hair. Use hygienic aid such as
powder, lotion and deodorant.

26. Make the bed and assist the patient to a

comfortable position.

27. Perform after care of the equipment.

28. Wash hands. Prevents spread of infection.

Documentation:
Record significant observation made such as
excoriations in the folds beneath the breast
and reddened areas over bony prominences