LESSON 3
CARING FOR THE PATIENT'S ENVIRONMENT
3-1.
OVERVIEW
To provide safety and comfort of the patient, his unit should be cleaned in such a
manner as to provide a safe and attractive environment. In addition, his bed should be
made in a manner that provides comfort and appears neat and orderly. The bed is the
center of activities for many patients in a hospital. The patient may be fed, bathed, and
receive treatment in his bed; therefore, it should be made as clean and as pleasant as
possible.
3-2.
CLEANING A PATIENT UNIT
a. Scope of Responsibility. Nursing service personnel are responsible for the
bed, bedside cabinet, chair, overbed table (when used), lamp, and curtain or cubicle
partition. In addition, when custodial housekeeping services are not available, the
medical specialist is also responsible for the floor and windowsills within the patient unit
area and the adjoining bathroom.
b. Types of Cleaning. The two types of unit cleaning are termed concurrent
and terminal.
(1) Concurrent unit cleaning is the cleaning of a unit daily or in accordance
with local standing operating procedure (SOP). A similar procedure is required on a
regularly scheduled basis for a long-term patient to ensure that any accumulation of
dust and germs is eliminated.
(2) Terminal unit cleaning is the cleaning of a unit, when the patient is
discharged, transferred, or dies. This type of cleaning includes more activity than the
daily (concurrent) cleaning of the area.
c. Equipment. The equipment required to clean a patient unit follows:
(1)
Wheeled utility cart.
(2)
Wheeled laundry camper.
(3)
Cleaning cloths.
(4)
Wastebasket with paper bag or plastic liner.
(5)
Basin of prescribed detergent-germicide solution.
MD0556
3-2