BABA SOCIETY INSTITUTE OF PARAMEDICAL COLLEGE OF NURSING

PROCEDURE GUIDE AND CHECK LIST

PERINEAL CARE

Perineal care promotes patient comfort and removes secretions and odors.

Procedure

1. The following equipment is needed for this

skill:
a. towels
b. gloves
c. bath basin & warm water
d. soap
e. washcloth
f. protective pads/linen
g. cotton balls/gauze.
2. Prepare the patient by folding the top bed
linen to the foot of the bed and fold up the
gown to expose the perineal/genital area.
3. Place a bath towel under the patient’s hips.
4. Position and drape the patient.

Females:
5. Have the patient lie on their back with knees
flexed and spread apart.
6. Drape the legs by covering the torso with an
additional sheet or blanket and tuck the
corners under to inner sides of the legs. Allow
some of the sheet to cover the pubic area
until cleaning commences.
7. Clean the labia majora, then spread the labia to
wash the folds between the labia majora and
the labia minora.
8. Clean in direction from perineum to rectum.

9. Using separate quarters of the washcloth for

each stroke, wipe from the pubis to the
rectum.

10. For menstruating patients or those with

indwelling catheters, disposable cloths, gauze,
or cotton balls may be useful. Use a clean area
for each stroke.

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11. With a catheter, wipe in the direction away from .
entry site.
12. Rinse well. May use a peri-wash bottle or .
container to flow warm water over the perineal
area. Having the patient on a bedpan allows
collection of the draining fluid.

13. Dry thoroughly, paying attention to the folds

between the labia.
14. Assess the area for evidence of redness,
irritation, and drainage, especially between the
labia in females and around indwelling
catheters.
15. Reposition the patient on the side facing away
and clean between the buttocks. May use tissue
first if heavily soiled.
Males:
16. Assist the patient to a supine position, knees
flexed, and hips slightly rotated externally.
17. Wash and dry the perineal area. Clean the inner
thighs and general perineal area first.(Clean to
Dirty)
18. Wash and dry the penis, using firm strokes.
Begin in circular motion at the glans penis and
wash toward the base, using separate quarters
of the cloth.
19. For uncircumcised patients, retract the foreskin
exposing the tip of the penis, clean the glans
penis, and replace the foreskin.

20. Wash and dry the scrotum. (The posterior folds

of the scrotum may be cleaned more easily
when the rectum is cleaned).
21. Inspect the perineal orifices for intactness,
especially in catheterized patients.
22. Reposition the patient on the side facing away
and clean between the buttocks. May use tissue
first if heavily soiled. Pay particular attention to
the posterior scrotal folds.
23. Dry the area well.
24. Assess for redness, excoriation, tenderness,
discharge, or drainage.
25. Document condition of skin.
26. Report any abnormal data to the appropriate
personnel.

N:ADN/ADN Syllabus/CBC Curriculum/Level I/1216/Performance Checklist for Basic Skills - Perineal Care
Revised 04/16

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