HYGIENE

• Hygiene


  The science that deals with the preservation of health. It is a set of practices performed for the preservation of health.
• Hygienic care


  • Promotes cleanliness, provides for comfort and relaxation, improves self-image and promotes healthy skin
• Personal hygiene


  The self care by which people attend to such functions as bathing, toileting, general body hygiene, and grooming. It involves care of the skin, hair, nails, teeth, oral and nasal cavities, eyes ears, and perineal-genital areas.
• Factors influencing hygienic practices

  • Culture
  • Religion
  • Environment
  • Developmental level
  • Health and energy
  • Personal preferences
• Types of hygienic care

  • Early morning care
  • Morning care
  • Hour of sleep (HS) or PM care
  • As needed (PRN) care
• Bed bath


  Given to provide cleanliness and comfort to a client who is unable to be out of bed because of physical or mental limitations
• Purposes of bed bath

  • To remove transient microorganisms, body secretions and excretions and dead skin cells
  • To stimulate circulatory to the skin
  • To promote a sense of well-being
  • To produce relaxation and comfort
  • To prevent and eliminate unpleasant body odors
• Two general categories of bath

  • Cleaning bath
  • Therapeutic bath
• Types of cleaning bath

  • Complete bed bath
  • Self-help bed bath
  • Tub bath
  • Shower
  • Partial bed bath
• Nurse responsibility for bed bath

  • Provide the basin of water, bath blanket
  • Assistance is needed for the feet and legs, back and buttocks
  • Do not omit back rub
  • Ensure privacy
  • Adjust room temperature and temperature of water
  • Do not allow client to soak longer than 20 minutes
• Types of therapeutic bath

  • Hot or warm water tub baths
  • Cool or tepid sponge baths
  • Soak baths
  • Sitz baths
  • Oatmeal or Aveeno
  • Cornstarch
  • Sodium bicarbonate baths
• Bedridden


  A term used to describe a person who is unable to leave due to illness or injury
• Examples of bedridden


  • Very elderly
  • Terminally ill
  • Those paralyzed as a result of an accident
• Procedure for bed bath

  1. Sponge starting always from FAR SIDE (soap, rinse, tap dry)

  2. Eyes - inner to outer cantus

  3. Forehead, cheek, chin - figure of S

  4. Ears - front then back

  5. Forehead, nose, mouth

  6. Neck - downward stroke

  7. Far arm -->near arm --> hands

  8. Chest--> navel area

  9. Abdomen --> pubic bone/area

  10. Far legs -->near legs-->foot

  11. Genitalia (then turn the patient to prone position)

  12. back of the neck--> back

  13. Buttocks (massage-figure of 8)

  14. Back rub
• Back rubs and massages

  Stimulate the client's circulation, relax muscles, and relieve muscle tension; provides nurse with an opportunity for skin assessment
• Types of massage strokes

  • Effleurage
  • 3 handed effleurage
  • Petrissage
  • Tapottement
• Provide skin care, foot and nail care, oral care, hair care, and eye, ear and nose care as part of hygienic practices