PRAN 150 TERM 1

Personal Care

Importance of good personal hygiene:

 Reduces odours and pathogens.
 Promotes comfort, safety and good health.

Providing or assisting with personal care (dependent or partially dependent

client):
 Promote independence at all times to maintain/improve function.
 Incorporate client preferences, if possible.
 Factors affecting frequency of personal care – presence of diaphoresis,
incontinence, emesis, drainage from wounds or tubes. Swallowing ability.
 Offer the use of the toilet, urinal or bedpan prior to starting personal care.
 Cleanse washbasins prior to filling with water and following personal care.
 Water temp- warm, if patient can test it, have them do so
 Use aseptic technique:
o Head to toe
o Clean to dirty
o Far to near – distal to proximal
o Do not ‘redip’ a dirty washcloth into the clean water in the washbasin
 Wear gloves when coming into contact with bodily fluids – oral fluids, urine,
feces, and any areas of impaired skin integrity. Always wear gloves for oral
and perineal care.
 Create a bath mitt out of the washcloth.
 Pat dry.
 Apply moisturizer to dry skin to protect skin integrity.
 Complete a visual inspection of all body areas during care (ie. presence of edema,
rashes, discolouration). Also be alert to any abnormal odours (ie. halitosis).
 Assess skin integrity, sensation, mobility during personal care. Do not rub
areas of redness – check for tissue health by performing a blanch test.

Oral Care/Denture Care:

 Can be done before or after bed bath. Check client preferences, if possible.
 Contributes to over-all health (ie. gingivitis is linked to the development of
cardiac disease).
 Position the client in upright position or side-lying if altered level of
consciousness.
 Assess the structures of the mouth and lips during oral care.

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Tub bath/Shower:
 Usually weekly in complex care settings, if assistance needed.
 Nail care usually done at this time.

Partial Bed Bath:

 Routinely done every morning and bedtime.
 Includes areas that are commonly in contact with potential pathogens or with the
potential for skin irritation if not regularly cleansed.
 Hands, face, axilla, breast and abdominal folds, back and perineum.
 Includes a back rub.

Complete Bed Bath:

 Cleansing of all skin surfaces.
 Includes a back rub.
 For the client who can’t shower or receive a tub bath or
 The client who requires more extensive personal care.

Eye Care:
 Use plain tap water.
 Cleanse from inner canthus to outer canthus.
 Use separate parts of the washcloth to cleanse each eye to prevent potential
cross-contamination.

Menstrual Care:
 May need to assist with the use of menstrual pads (tampon use is discouraged).
 Report and record the following:
o abnormal odours
o fever
o erythema, edema, or irritation of the perineum
o complaints of pain, burning, difficulty urinating, or other discomfort
o heavy bleeding (pad soaked in one hour)
o large number of blood clots in menstrual discharge.

Foreskin Care:
 Retract the foreskin to provide care.
 Replace the foreskin following care provision.

Incontinence Products:
 Includes self-adhesive pads or ‘penis pockets’; mesh panties and liners; pull-up
briefs; and full briefs with adhesive strips.

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