Nursing & Healthcare Programs

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.

  1. Perform hand hygiene.
  2. Have the patient select an outfit to wear and gather those clothing items. Ensure those clothing items are clean and appropriate for the weather.
  3. Explain the procedure to the patient and provide privacy.
  4. Remove the patient’s shirt by undressing the stronger arm first. Then, gently slide the shirt off the patient’s weaker arm.
  5. 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.
  6. Continue undressing and dressing the patient in the same fashion for all garments worn.
  7. 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.
  8. Assist the patient in fastening any zippers and buttons and align clothing into its proper position.
  9. 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.
  10. Perform hand hygiene.
  11. 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

Supine Position

Supine position is a natural and comfortable position for most people. For this reason, it is a highly utilized position for nursing procedures. Unfortunately, this position puts pressure on many bony prominences that can lead to discomfort and/or pressure ulcers if the pressure is not relieved every so often (typically every two hours or less).

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.

Axillary Temperature with Electronic Thermometer

Compared to other temperature measurement methods, the axillary measurement is considered the least reliable. An axillary temperature measurement typically reads 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit lower than an oral temperature reading [1]. For this reason, it is recommended to use this method only when other methods are contraindicated or when taking an axillary temperature is the safest method for the patient.

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).

Measuring Blood Pressure

Many factors can interfere with obtaining an accurate blood pressure. The most common mistakes that lead to inaccurate blood pressures are a result of improper technique, including: not supporting the patient’s arm, using the wrong sized cuff, positioning the cuff too low on the patient’s arm, improper positioning of the cuff’s artery marker, and attempting to measure blood pressure through clothing.

Measuring the Respirations

Respiration is a vital sign that is measured frequently in the healthcare setting. Taking this measurement requires no equipment and relatively little time. However, it is a measurement that must be taken accurately, as a change in respiration may indicate the worsening of a patient’s condition.