Bathing

• Bathing

  It removes accumulated oil, perspiration, dead skin cells, and some bacteria
• Bathing


  It produces a sense of well-being
• Categories of Bath

  • Cleansing Bath
  • Therapeutic Bath
• Cleansing Bath


  Given chiefly for hygiene purposes
• Types of Cleansing Bath

  • Complete bed bath
  • Self-help bed bath
  • Partial bath (abbreviated bath)
  • Bag Bath
  • Towel Bath
  • Tub Bath
  • Shower
• Complete bed bath


  The nurse washes the entire body of a dependent client in bed
• Self-help bed bath

  Clients confined to bed are able to bathe themselves with help from the nurse for washing the back and perhaps the feet
• Partial bath (abbreviated bath)

  Only the parts of the client's body that might cause discomfort or odor, if neglected, are washed: the face, hands, axillae, perineal area, and back. Omitted are the arms, chest, abdomen, legs, and feet
• Bag Bath


  A commercially prepared product that contains 10 to 12 presoaked disposable washcloths that contain no rinse cleanser solution. The package is warmed in a microwave. The warming time is about 1 minute, but the nurse needs to determine how long it takes to attain a desirable temperature.
• Towel Bath


  Similar to a bag bath but uses regular towels. It is useful for clients who are bedridden and clients with dementia. The client is covered and kept warm throughout the bathing process by a bath blanket
• Tub Bath


  Often preferred to bed baths because it is easier to wash and rinse in a tub. Tubs are also used for therapeutic baths. The amount of assistance the nurse offers depends on the abilities of the client. There are specially designed tubs for dependent clients
• Shower


  Many ambulatory clients are able to use shower facilities and require only minimal assistance from the nurse. Clients in long-term care settings are often given showers with the aid of a shower chair
• Therapeutic Bath


  Given for physical effects, such as to soothe irritated skin or to treat an area. Medications may be placed in the water. A therapeutic bath is generally taken in a tub one third or one half full. The client remains in the bath for a designated time, often 20 to 30 minutes. If the client's back, chest, and arms are to be treated, these areas need to be immersed in the solution
• Assessment


  Physical or emotional factors, Condition of the skin, Presence of pain and need for adjunctive measures before the bath, Range of motion of the joints, Any other aspect of health that may affect the client's bathing process, Need for use of clean gloves during the bath
• The bath water is usually warm (37°C) to promote relaxation.
• A full-body bath can be taken once or twice weekly.
• Sponge bath - A sponge bath involves washing the body with soap and water using a washcloth or sponge.
• • Shower The water for a bath should feel comfortably warm to the client. People vary in their sensitivity to heat; generally, the temperature should be

  43°C to 46°C (110°F to 115°F).