Nursing & Healthcare Programs

Partial Bed Bath

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

Partial Bed Bath Procedure

Equipment needed: gloves, washbasin, soap, lotion, 4 washcloths, 2 bath towels, clean clothes/gown, bath blanket, and a soiled laundry bag.

  1. Perform hand hygiene and put on gloves.
  2. Explain the procedure to the patient and ask for their assistance in following directions. Provide privacy.
  3. Fill a bath basin with warm water. Check the temperature on your wrist to ensure a comfortable temperature or use a thermometer if available. Then, have the patient test the water temperature on his/her wrist. Adjust the temperature if necessary.
  4. Set the basin on a bedside table. Raise the patient’s bed to a comfortable working height.
  5. Cover the patient with a bath blanket and remove the patient’s gown and top bed linens from underneath the bath blanket.
  6. Always keep the patient covered, uncovering only the area being washed. Place a dry towel underneath the area being washed to keep the bed linens dry.
  7. With the patient’s eyes closed, use a wet washcloth to wash the eye furthest from you. Use a gentle stroke to clean from the inner canthus to the outer canthus. Do not use soap. Change to a clean section of the washcloth before washing the eye closest to you.
  8. Continue washing the rest of the face, beginning in the center and working out towards the ears. Pat dry.
  9. Using soapy water, wash the patient’s arms. Begin at the shoulders and proceed down to the hands. Do not forget the axilla area. Rinse the arms and pat dry.
  10. Continue on to the neck, chest, and abdomen. Cleanse the area with soap and water, rinse, and pat dry. For female patients, be sure to completely dry the area underneath the breasts and check for any irritation.
  11. Assist the patient onto his or her side to expose the back. With soap and water, begin washing at the neck and work down to the buttocks. Rinse the area and pat dry. If desired, apply lotion to the patient’s back and provide a simple back rub.
  12. Assist the patient back into a supine position.
  13. For perineal care, obtain clean bath water and a clean washcloth. If the patient is able to perform this task independently, provide them with the supplies and give them privacy. If unable, change your gloves and complete the task. Remove soiled gloves.
  14. Assist the patient in putting on a fresh gown. Remove the bath blanket without exposing the patient. Check the patient’s sheets and change them if wet or soiled.
  15. Help the patient into a comfortable position and lower the bed.
  16. Place all used washcloths, towels, and linens into a soiled laundry bag.
  17. Dispose of the bath water and clean the washbasin.
  18. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
  19. Document the procedure in the patient’s chart and report any changes in the patient’s condition to the nurse.

Important Information

Bathing is an important part of a patient’s health routine. A partial bed bath focuses on bathing sensitive areas that cause discomfort if not cleansed frequently, such as the face, hands, axillae, back, and perineum. Though patients receiving a bed bath are typically confined to the bed, some are able to wash themselves and should be encouraged to do so to promote independence. As a reminder, leaving soap and water on the skin contributes to skin irritation and breakdown [1]. For this reason, always dry the patient completely and change the sheets if they are wet.

By: Hollie Finders RN

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088928/

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).

Moving the Resident from a Bed to a Stretcher or Gurney

Moving a patient from a bed to a stretcher can pose huge safety risks to both the patient and to the health care workers completing the transfer. Always use the appropriate amount of people to complete a transfer, which may vary according to the patient’s weight and/or the facility’s policy. In some cases, a mechanical lift may be needed.

Assisting the Resident to Sit on the Side of the Bed

Having the resident sit on the side of the bed is otherwise referred to as dangling. When a resident quickly changes position, especially from lying to sitting or standing, there can be a rapid drop in the resident’s blood pressure. This drop in blood pressure may cause dizziness or lightheadedness.

Orthopneic Position

Patients with respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) find ways to help themselves breathe more easily. This can include sleeping with extra pillows to keep them propped up or leaning forward to ease the work of breathing. The orthopneic position is one forward-leaning position used to help patients breathe comfortably when they are having difficulty.

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.

Oral Temperature Measurement with an Electronic Monitor

Body temperature is one of the vital signs frequently measured in healthcare settings. Changes in a body temperature can indicate improvement or worsening of a patient’s condition, so accurate measurement is important.