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

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.

person wearing orange and white silicone band

Applying Restraints

Restraints have very strict guidelines for use due to the number of complications that can result. Use of restraints is associated with increased physical and psychosocial health issues. Restraints are only considered necessary when restraint-free alternatives have failed and the patient or others are at risk of harm without the restraints. It is illegal to use restraints for the staff’s convenience or to punish the patient.

Perineal Care of the Male Resident

Perineal care should be performed during a bath, after using the bedpan, and/or after incontinence. Special care should be used when performing perineal care on an uncircumcised male. Failure to retract and wash the area under the foreskin can result in infection. Failure to return the foreskin to its normal position can result in paraphimosis.

Feeding the Patient

Not all patients will need help feeding themselves. Some patients will only need assistance opening cartons or cutting their food. To promote independence, always let the patient do as much as he or she can before assisting. It is vitally important that the nurse’s aide verifies that the patient receives the correct meal tray. Patients may have special diets that play a critical role in their health (i.e., pureed diet, gluten-free diet, food allergies, etc.). Feeding the wrong food to the wrong patient could result in serious complications.