NCM 21O - COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING

Tools of the Public Health Nurse 🧑‍⚕️ DESIATA, LYRIZZA

Tools of the Public Health Nurse On the right rear (Back)

CHN BAG CONTENTS ➔ Test tube (2)
➔ Test Tube holder
In front left to right of the bag ➔ Medicine droppers
➔ Thermometer ➔ Alcohol lamp
➔ Ice/ cold pack ➔ Match

On the left rear (Back) of the bag On top file of the bag
➔ Medicine cups ➔ Hand towel
➔ Baby weighing scale ➔ Soap
➔ Bandage scissors with tourniquet ➔ Apron in a soap dish
➔ Paper and plastic lining
In the center of the bag ➔ Pouches
➔ Hemostat forceps (3)
➔ Sterile dressing/ OS Carried separately/ on top of bag
➔ Cotton balls ➔ BP apparatus
➔ Tape measure ➔ Umbrella
➔ Roller elastic bandage ➔ Pulse oximeter
➔ Syringes (G 23 and 25) and needles (G 19,
22, 23 &25)
➔ Plaster
➔ Cotton applicator
➔ Sterile cord clamp
➔ Rubber suction
➔ Kidney basin

In the pocket of the bag

➔ Sterile and clean gloves
➔ Sterile tongue blade
➔ Waste receptacle
➔ Face mask
➔ Red, blue and black ballpens
➔ Pencil
➔ Ruler
➔ Penlight

At back of the bag of left to right

➔ Alcohol 70%
➔ Acetic Acid 5 -10%
➔ Spirit of Ammonia
➔ Benedict’s solution
➔ Liquid/ soap solution
➔ Denatured alcohol
➔ Povidone-iodine/Iodine-povidone (Betadine)
➔ Hydrogen peroxide
BAG TECHNIQUE
A tool of making use of a public health
bag through which the nurse, during his/her home
visit, can perform nursing procedures with ease
and deftness, saving time and effort with the end
in view of rendering effective nursing care.
PUBLIC HEALTH BAG
● is an essential and indispensable equipment
of the public health nurse which he/she has
to carry along when he/she goes out home
visiting. It contains basic medications and
articles which are necessary for giving care
PRINCIPLES
1. Performing the bag technique will minimize, if
not prevent the spread of any infection.
2. It saves time and effort in the performance of
nursing procedures.
3. The bag technique should show the
effectiveness of total care given to an
individual or family
4. The bag technique can be performed in a
variety of ways depending on the agency’s
policy, the home situation, or as long as
principles of avoiding transfer of infection is
always observed.
Important points to consider in the use of bag:
1. The bag should contain all the necessary
articles, supplies and equipments that will be
used to answer emergency needs.
2. The bag and its contents should be cleaned
as often as possible, supplied replaced and
ready for use at any time.
3. The bag and its contents should be well
protected from contact with any article in
the belonging to the patient as dirty and
contaminated.
4. The arrangement of the contents of the bag
should be the one most convenient to the
user, facilitate efficiency and avoid
confusion.
ISOLATION TECHNIQUE IN THE HOME
1. All articles used by the patient should not
be mixed with the articles used by other
members of the household.
2. Frequent washing and airing of beddings
and other articles and disinfection of
room are imperative.
Abundant use of soap, water, sunlight
and some chemical disinfectants is
necessary
3. The one caring for the sick member
should be provided with PPE and should
only be used within the room of the sick.
4. All discharges should be carefully
discarded, esp. the nose and throat of a
communicable disease patient.
5. Hand washing is done as frequently as
the situation calls for, helps in minimizing
or avoiding contamination of the bag
and its contents.
6. The bag when used for a communicable
case should be thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected before keeping and reusing.
7. Articles soiled with discharges should be
first boiled in water 30 minutes before
laundering. Those that could be burned
should be burned.
 STEPS IN PERFORMING THE BAG TECHNIQUE ACTIONS

STEPS RATIONALE

1. Upon arrival at the patient’s home, place the To protect the bag form getting contaminated.
bag on the table lined with a clean paper. The
clean side must be out and the folded part,
touching the table.

2. Ask for a basin/ dipper of water if tap running To be used for handwashing.
water is not available.

3. Open the bag and take out waste receptacle, To prepare for handwashing
the towel and soap.

4. Wash hands using soap and water, wipe to dry To prevent infection from the care provider to the
client

5. Take out the apron from the bag and put it on To protect the nurse’s uniform.
with the right side out.

6. Put out all the necessary articles needed for To have them readily accessible.
specific care.

7. Close the bag and put it on one corner of the To prevent contamination.
working area.

8. Proceed in performing the necessary nursing To give comfort and security and hasten recovery.
care and treatment.

9. After giving the treatment, clean all things that To protect the caregiver and prevent infection
were used and perform handwashing

10. Open the bag and return all things that were Ready for next use.
used in their proper places after cleaning them.

11. Remove apron, folding it away from the To prevent contamination.

person, the soiled side in and the clean side out.
Place it inside the pouch.

12. Fold the lining, place it inside the bag and

close the bag.

13. Take the record and have a talk with the For reference for the next visit.
mother or member of the family or client. Write
down the necessary data that were gathered,
observations, nursing care and treatment
rendered. Give instructions for care of patient in
the absence of the nurse.

14. Make appointment for the next visit (either For follow-up care.
home or clinic) taking note of the date and time.