(8) Lower side rail, position patient on near side of bed, and raise bed to
working level.
(9) Loosen top linens from the foot of the bed; place bath blankets over the
top linens. Ask patient to hold bath blankets while you remove top linens. If patient is
unable, you will have to hold bath blanket in place while removing linens.
(10) Remove the pillow and raise the head of the bed to semi-Fowler's
position if patient can tolerate it. Place it at the back of the chair (hang the pillow case
to receive soiled linen, if laundry hamper is not readily available). Do not permit soiled
laundry to touch your uniform.
(11) Assist the patient with oral hygiene. If the patient is unable, you should
perform procedures in paragraphs 1-11 through 1-14.
(12) Remove the patient's gown/pajamas, all undergarments, and jewelry.
(a) If the patient has an injured arm or shoulder, start removing the
coat from the uninjured side. When only limited movement is permitted, the pajama
coat is worn back to front, and left unfastened.
(b) To remove the coat, unbutton and tuck the excess material under
the back toward the far shoulder. Raise the far shoulder, remove the sleeve, and tuck
the coat under the near shoulder. Raise the near shoulder and pull the coat through,
removing it from the near arm.
(c) To remove the pants, loosen the waist tie, unbutton, and pull the
pants below the hips while keeping the patient covered with the sheet. Grasping the
waist portion, ease the pants off over the feet.
(13) Wash the patient's eyes and face.
(a) Place the bath towel under the patient's head and the hand towel
over his chest. Form a mitt with the bath cloth around hand; ends of bath cloth should
not dangle (fig. 1-4). Dip mitt and hand into bath water. Squeeze out excess water.
(b) Bathe the eyelids, using a different portion of the cloth for each eye.
Cleanse from inner to outer canthus (corner of eye), as in figure 1-5. Dry thoroughly.
(c) Apply soap to the cloth, unless soap is not to be used on the
patient's face. Do not leave soap in water. Rinse bath cloth. Using firm, gentle strokes,
wash the face to the hairline. Wash the ears and neck. Use cotton-tipped applicators to
cleanse pinna of ear.
MD0556
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