BAG TECHNIQUE

Purpose: To minimize or if not totally, prevent the spread of infection from an individual to
families and ultimately to the community while rendering service to clients or family member

Materials:

1.) Paper lining

2.) Extra paper for making bag for waste materials (paper bag)
3.) Plastic/ linen lining
4.) Apron
5.) Hand towel in plastic bag
6.) Soap in soap dish
7.) Thermometers in case (one oral and rectal)
8.) 2 pairs of scissors (1 surgical and 1 bandage)
9.) 2 pairs of forceps (curved and straight)
10.) Syringes (5 ml and 2ml)
11.) Hypodermic needles g.19,22,23,25
12.) Sterile dressing (os, c.b)
13.) Sterile cord tie
14.) Adhesive Plaster
15.) Dressing (os, cotton ball)
16.) Alcohol lamp
17.) Tape measure
18.) Baby’s scale
19.) 1 pair of rubber gloves
20.) 2 test tubes
21.) Test tube holder
22.) 70% alcohol
Medicines:
23.) Betadine
24.) Ophthalmic ointment (antibiotic)
25.) Zephiran solution
26.) Hydrogen peroxide (Not practice bc some studies shows that it also remove
healthy cells instead of removing only unwanted ones) (Normal saline is practiced to use)
27.) Spirit of ammonia
28.) Acetic acid
29.) Benedict’s solution

Note: Blood pressure Apparatus and Stethoscope are carried separately.

 Points to consider

1. The bag should contain all the necessary articles, supplies and equipment that will be
used to answer the emergency needs
2. The bag and its contents should be cleaned very often, the supplies replaced and ready for
use anytime.
3. The bag and its contents should be well protected from contact with any article in the
patient’s home.
4. Consider the bag and its contents clean and sterile, while articles that belong to the
patients as dirty and contaminated.
5. The arrangement of the contents of the bag should be the one most convenient to the user,
to facilitate efficiency and avoid confusion.
Procedure
1. Upon arriving at the client’s home, place the bag on the table or any flat surface lined with paper
lining, clean side out (folded part touching the table). Put bag’s handles or strap beneath the bag.
Rationale: To protect the bag from contamination.
Note: Paper lining then plastic lining (Our institution practiced this but according to the book
only paper lining is used)
Note: Place bag to side to give enough space for the paraphernalias
2. A. Ask for a basin of water and a glass of water if faucet is not available. B. Place these outside the
work area
Rationale: A. To be used for hand washing. B. To protect the work field from being wet.
Note: When hand washing, do not get close to the sink; Time: 40-60 sec. (Handwashing) 20-30
sec (Hand Rubbing)
Note: If hands not visibly soiled, we can do hand rubbing
3. Open the bag, take the linen/plastic lining and spread over work field or area. The paper lining should
be placed clean side out (folded part out).
Rationale: To make a non-contaminated work field area
4. Take out the hand towel, soap dish and apron and place over work area (within the confine of the
linen/plastic) lining.
Rationale: To prepare for handwashing
5. Do hand washing. Wipe, dry with towel. Leave the plastic wrappers of the towel in soap dish in the
bag.
Rationale: Handwashing prevents possible infection from care provider to the client
6. Put on apron right side out and wrong side with crease touching the body, sliding the head into the
neck strap. Neatly tie the straps at the back.
Rationale: To protect the nurse’s uniform. Keeping the crease creates aesthetic appearance.
7. Put out things most needed for the specific case (e.g. thermometer, kidney basin, cotton ball, waste
paper bag) and place at one corner of the work area.
Rationale: To make them readily accessible
8. Place waste paper bag outside of the work area
Rationale: To prevent contamination of clean area
9. Close the bag.
Rationale: To prevent contamination of bag and contents
10. Proceed to the specific nursing care or treatment
Rationale: To give comfort and security, maintain personal hygiene and hasten recovery
 Wound Care
1. Wash the area
Note: Use normal saline or water with soap
2. Apply Povidone Iodine to cotton
Rationale: To disinfect and avoid any infection
3. Use a forceps to get the cotton and apply to the area
Note: Circular motion: inner to outer area
4. Apply the gauze
Rationale: To protect the wound from bacterial contamination
Note: Make sure it is not loose or too tight

Benedict’s Test (To detect presence of sugar in the urine such as; glucose and fructose)
1. Perform hand washing or hand rubbing. Apply gloves
Rationale: To lessen microorganism and prevent cross-contamination
2. Put 5mL of Benedict’s solution in the test tube
3. Heat over flame
Rationale: To reduce the copper and cause a red copper (I) oxide precipitate to form
Note: When heating the solution make sure to place the mouth of the test tube away from you
Note: Move the test tube back & forth over the flame; when starts to bubble we are ready for
the next step
4. Put 3-5 drops of urine and boil the mixture
Note: Do not shake vigorously as this may alter the results
5. Leave the mixture to cool at room temperature (37°C)

6. Read and interpret the results

8. A. Record the result and B. explain to the client the significance of the findings and give health
teaching
Rationale: A. To serve as baseline data and as record of evidence that nursing intervention
has
been done B. For the client’s own health awareness

Acetic Acid Test ( To check level of albumin in the urine)

1. Perform hand washing or hand rubbing. Apply gloves
Rationale: To lessen microorganism and prevent cross-contamination
2. Fill 2/3 of test tube or 5mL of urine
Note: Use normal saline or water with soap
Note: Instruct the client to collect in the 3cc sterile bottle the mid-stream urine to make sure it
is a clean specimen
 3. Heat the upper portion of the test tube with urine without shaking until boiling
Rationale: We heat the upper portion because the urine in lower part act as control and is
used to compare the haziness developed in the upper part with rest of urine
Note: When heating the solution make sure to place the mouth of the test tube away from you
4. If cloudiness appears in the heated portion, add 5 drops one at a time of 10% of acetic acid & reheat
until boil
Rationale: To rule out the formation of phosphate the formation of white precipitate indicates
positive albumin
Note: If there’s no cloudiness we can still add acetic acid
5. Interpret the characteristics
For example: The mixture shows no turbidity at all which suggests that the urine has a
negative presence of albumin

6. A. Record the result and B. explain to the client the significance of the findings and give health
teaching
Rationale: A. To serve as baseline data and as record of evidence that nursing intervention has
been done B. For the client’s own health awareness
11. After completing nursing care or treatment, clean and disinfect the things used.
Rationale: To protect care giver and prevent spread of infection to others
12. Do hand washing again
Rationale: To lessen the transmission of microorganism and prevent cross-contamination
13. Open the bag and put all articles in their proper places
Rationale:
14. Remove apron folding away from the body, with soiled folded inwards, and the clean side out. Place it
in a bag.
Note: Remove apron, folding it away from the person, the soiled side in and the clean side out.
Place it in the bag.
15. Fold the linen/plastic lining, clean; place it in the bag and close the bag.
Rationale:
16. Make post-visit conference on matters relevant to health care, taking anecdotal notes preparatory to
final reporting.
Rationale: To be used as reference for future visit
17. Make appointment for the next visit (either home or clinic), taking note of the date, time and purpose.
Rationale: For follow-up care
18. Perform after care
a. Before keeping all articles in the bag, clean and alcoholize them.
b. Get the bag from the table, fold the paper lining (an insert) and place in between the flaps and
cover the bag.
Rationale: To prevent spreading of microorganism
19. 1. Record all relevant findings about the client and members of the family.
2. Take note of environmental factors which affect the clients/family health.
3. Include quality of nurse-patient relationship.
4. Assess effectiveness of nursing care provided.