Dressing and Undressing a Patient

Written by Hollie Finders, RN
Hollie Finders is a registered nurse with years of experience working in the health care field. She has degrees in both biochemistry and nursing. After working with patients of all ages, Hollie now specializes in pediatric intensive care nursing. Hollie’s LinkedIn

Procedure for Dressing and Undressing a Patient

Equipment needed: patient’s clothing.

Perform hand hygiene.
Have the patient select an outfit to wear and gather those clothing items. Ensure those clothing items are clean and appropriate for the weather.
Explain the procedure to the patient and provide privacy.
Remove the patient’s shirt by undressing the stronger arm first. Then, gently slide the shirt off the patient’s weaker arm.
To dress the patient, perform steps in the opposite order. Assist the patient in dressing the weaker arm first and then proceed to the stronger side.
Continue undressing and dressing the patient in the same fashion for all garments worn.
If the patient is standing, have him or her sit down. Assist him or her in putting on non-skid footwear. Tie laces if shoes are worn.
Assist the patient in fastening any zippers and buttons and align clothing into its proper position.
Place the patient’s personal clothing in a safe place or in a laundry hamper if provided. Place facility gowns into a soiled laundry bag.
Perform hand hygiene.
Document the procedure in the patient’s chart and report any changes in the patient’s condition to the nurse.

Important Information About Dressing and Undressing

Patients who have suffered a stroke or have weakness or injury to one side of their body may struggle with dressing and undressing. In order to help these patients regain their strength and independence, it is important that the nurse’s aide only assist them as needed. The nurse’s aide may need to teach patients how to dress and undress safely with their limitations.

When assisting a patient in dressing and undressing, be sure to move the patient’s limbs gently and in a natural motion. Avoid overextending the patient’s joints, as doing so may result in injury. Limit the use of the patient’s weak extremity by dressing the affected side first and undressing the affected side last.

More Resources

Putting on Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is worn to protect the mouth, nose, eyes, clothing, and skin from unwanted pathogens. In the health care setting, a patient’s condition often prompts the use of personal protective equipment; however, a health care worker is able to wear personal protective equipment whenever he or she deems it is necessary (e.g., during procedures with the potential for excessive contact with bodily fluids).

Making an Occupied Bed

If a patient is bedridden or on bedrest, the bed linens will need to be changed while the patient is in the bed. For safety reasons, the nurse’s aid should avoid making an occupied bed if the patient is able to get out of bed. Bed linens should be changed according to the facility’s policy or anytime they are wet or soiled.

Tympanic Membrane Temperature with Electronic Thermometer

A tympanic membrane thermometer uses an infrared sensor to measure the temperature of the tympanic membrane (ear drum). This type of thermometer is considered an accurate and reliable predictor of a patient’s core temperature because the tympanic membrane’s blood supply is sourced from the carotid artery, which is the same artery that carries blood to the hypothalamus in the brain.

Performing the Heimlich Maneuver

The Heimlich Maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, is used to remove an object that is blocking a resident’s airway and preventing air from reaching the lungs. It only takes four to six minutes for brain damage to occur from lack of oxygen, so prompt action is vital.

Moving the Resident to the Side of the Bed

Residents are usually kept in the center of the bed for safety reasons. However, moving a resident to the side of the bed is an important step to take before turning a resident onto his or her side. Performing this action allows the resident to end up side lying in the center of the bed and not smashed up against the side rail.

Perineal Care of the Female Resident

Perineal care should be performed during a bath, after using the bedpan, and/or after incontinence. Proper technique is important for maintaining hygiene, preventing infection, and avoiding skin breakdown. Because of the close proximity between a woman’s urethra, vagina, and anus, it is essential to only wipe in a front to back motion. Wiping in the opposite direction is associated with a greater risk for developing a urinary tract infection.