This document provides information about bed baths, including definitions, types of therapeutic baths, purposes of bed baths, general instructions, necessary articles, procedures, and aftercare. It details the step-by-step process for providing a bed bath, emphasizing thorough cleaning and the patient's comfort, privacy, and dignity. The goal of bed baths is to maintain patients' hygiene, skin integrity, and well-being.

1. BED BATH

3. DEFINITION
• Bed bath refers to the procedure of giving bath to the
patients who is confined to bed or is not ambulatory or
is not physically or mentally capable of self care.

4. TYPES OF THERAPEUTIC BATHS
• HOT WATER TUB BATH
Immersion in hot water helps to relive muscle
soreness and spasm. Water temperature should be
45ºC TO 46ºC

5. • WARM WATER TUB BATH
Bathing in warm water relieves muscle tension. Water
temperature should be 43ºC

6. • COOL WATER BATH
Bathing in tepid water helps to lower body
temperature is over 40ºC. Water temperature should
be 37ºC.

7. SITZ BATH

8. • SITZ BATH
a) HOT SITZ BATH
Cleanses and reduces inflammation of the perineal
and anal areas of a patient who has undergone rectal or
perineal surgery or in hemorroids or fissures. Water
temperature should be 43ºC TO 45ºC.

9. B)COLD SITZ BATH
Cold sitz bath is more effective in releiving pain in
the post partum period.

10. • BACK RUB OR BACK MASSAGE
It promotes relaxation, relieves muscular tension
and stimulates skin circulation. An effective back rub
takes 3-5 minutes.

11. PURPOSES
Removal of bacteria from the skin
Confinement in bed increases perspiration and
bacterial growth, stimulated by moisture.
Skin irritation from hospital bed linens may results
in skin breakdown and subsequent infection.

12. Stimulation of blood circulation to the skin, respirations
and eliminations
Maintenance of joint mobility
Relaxation effect on the patient

13. • Improvement of the patient’s self image and emotional and
mental wellbeing
• Providing the nurse with an opportunity for health teaching
and assessment
• Providing the nurse with an opportunity to give the patient
psychological support
• The bath aids in the development of therapeutic nurse
patient relationship as the patient has the nurse’s undivided
attention
• The nurse can orient the scientific method of providing skin
care to the patient relatives

14. TIMING OF PROVIDING BED BATH
• A patient’s bath may be given at any time, according to the patient’s needs, but
certain routines are generally followed on a ward
• Morning care
1. The procedure followed in the morning affects the patients comfort
throughout the day
2. Each morning before breakfast, the patient should be assissted to the
bathroom or a bedpan or urinal
3. The patient is then given the opportunity to wash his/her teeth. The bed
linen is straightened and the overbed table is cleaned in preparation for the
breakfast tray
4. After breakfast, the patient has a complete bath

15. 5. Bed linens are changed and the unit is cleaned and
straightened to provide a comfortable and safe environment
Evening care
1. Care provided to patient at the end of the day greatly
influences the patient's level of relaxation and ability to sleep
2. Bed linens are straightened, the patient’s unit is straightened,
to ensure comfort and safety.

16. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
• Maintain privacy of the patient by using screens,
drapes etc.
• The patient’s unit should be warm and free odf
droughts.
• Bed bath should not be given immediately after meals,
because it will affect the normal process of digestion
• Avoid unnecessary exertion of the patient

17. • Give special attention to pressure points, skin creases
and folds
• Maintain proper body mechanism during the procedure
• Cleaning is done from cleanest to less clean area
• Temperature of the water should be according to the
patient’s comfort
• For sponge bath 100-115ºf
• For tub bath/bathroom bath 90-100ºf

18. PROCEDURE
• PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT
• Assess the patient’s need for bathing
• Check the patient’s ability for self care
• Check whether the patient has taken meals not less than
before one hour
• Check the articles available with the patient and keep in his
unit

19. ARTICLES
• BATH BASIN -1
• SPONGE CLOTHES – 2
• SMALL BOWL – 1
• SOAP WITH SOAP DISH
• BATH TOWEL – 1
• FACE TOWEL – 1
• BATH BLANKET/SHEET-1
• SPIRIT AND POWDER

20. • NAIL CUTTER OR SCISSORS
• COMB AND OIL
• A KIDNEY TRAY AND A PAPER BAG
• JUGS – 2
• BUCKET -1
• A SET OF THE PATIENT’S CLOTHES
• SCREEN/CURTAIN
• A LAUNDRY BAG
• BATH THERMOMETER

21. PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT
• Explain the patient regarding the sequence of the procedure
• Bring the patient to the edge of the bed nearer to the nurse
• Provide privacy by means of screens/curtains
• Remove extra pillows and backrest, keep one pillow under the
patient’s head, if condition permits
• Offer a bed pan or urinal, if necessary
• Remove the top linen, patient’s clothes
• Replace the top linen with bath blanket/sheet

22. PROCEDURE
STEPS
• Wash hands
• Pair of gloves
• Mix hot and cold water in the
basin and check for the
temperature for tolerance by
placing elbow in water(preferably
to be checked with bath
thermometer)
RATIONALE
• To prevent cross-infection
• To prevent cross-infection
• Excess of heat can give rise
to burns

23. STEPS
• Place the bath towel over the patient’s
chest under the chin
• Wash, rinse and dry forehead, cheeks,
nose, neck and ears
• Dry the face with a face towel
• Place the bath towel length wise under
the farthest arm. Wrap your right hand
with a sponge towel. Bath arm with soap
and water with long firm strokes from
distal to proximal.
RATIONALE
• To prevent soiling of the bath
blanket/sheet
• Cleansing is done from cleanest to less
cleanest to less clean areas.
• To avoid uneasiness
• Soap removes dirt and cleans the skin.
Long firm strokes stimulate circulation

24. • Rinse and support arms above the
head while washing axillae
thoroughly.
• Rinse and dry arm and axillae.
Apply talcum powder, if needed.
• Fold the bath towel in half and
place basin on the towel. Immerse
the patient’s hand in water. Rinse
and dry thoroughly, giving special
attention to the skin between
• Movement of arms expose axillae.
• Skin folds to be kept dry
• Soaking softens cuticles and calluses
of hand and loosens debris beneath
nails. Soaking gives a feeling of
cleanliness. Through drying removes
moisture in between fingers

25. • Repeat the same for the other
arm.
• Cover the patient’s chest with a
bath towel and fold the bath
blanket down to umbilicus
• Soaking softens cuticles and
calluses of hand and loosens
debris beneath nails. Soaking
gives a feeling of cleanliness.
Through drying removes moisture
in between fingers
• Prevents unnecessary exposure
of the body parts.

26. • With one hand, lift the edge of the
towel away from the chest. With
mitted hand, clean the chest using
long firm strokes. Give special
care to wash skin folds under
breasts in a female patient, keep
the chest covered between wash
and rinse periods. Dry well.
• Maintain privacy and warmth.
Secretions and dirt usually get
collected in areas of tight skin
folds.

27. • With the towel remaining on the
chest, fold back the blanket down
to the pubic region, clean the
abdomen by giving special
attention to the umbilicus and
abdominal folds. Keep the
abdomen covered between
washing and rinsing. Dry well.
• Remove the towel and put back
the bath blanket and cover the
patient.
• Change water. The waste water is
• Moisten the sediments that collect
in skin folds, predispose the client
to skin maceration and irritation.
• To avoid over exposure and chills
in the patient

28. • Turn the patient to the prone or side
lying position. Place a towel length
wise along the client’s side. Keep
the patient draped by sliding a bath
blanket over shoulders and thighs.
• Wash, rinse and dry back from the
neck to buttocks, using long firm
strokes. After drying the back give a
through back rub with powder
longitudinally in circular motion. Pay
special attention to all pressure
• Expose back and buttocks for
bathing. Maintains warmth and
prevents unnecessary
exposure.
• A thorough cleaning, back rub
and application of spirit and
powder prevents bed sores.

29. • Put on the upper garments and cover
him/her with a bath blanket
• Expose farthest leg by folding the bath
blanket towards midline. Flex the knees.
Place the bath towel length-wise under
the leg. Place the basin on the towel and
keep the foot in the basin.
• Prevent exposure of the body for a longer
period. Patient feels safe and comfortable
• Promotes thorough cleaning.

30. • Use long, firm strokes in washing from
ankle to knee and from knee to thigh. Dry
well.
• At the end clean the foot in water, paying
particular attention to the toes and nails.
• Promotes venous return.
• Water softens the nailbeds and makes it
easier to clean. Secretions and moisture
may be present between toes

31. • By exposing only genitalia, clean the
perineum thoroughly and dry. Give
special attention to skin folds. The patient
can do it himself if he is able to do so.
• Put on the lower garments. Remove the
bath blanket. Cover the patient with top
linen.
• Maintains the patient’s privacy. Patients,
who are capable, usually prefer doing it
by themselves. Skin folds are a site for
accumulation of secretions and moisture.
• To prevent exposure

32. AFTER CARE OF THE PATIENT
• Cut short finger nails and toe nails.
• Put oil and comb the hair.
• Offer hot/cold drinks as permitted.
• Remove the bath blanket and cover the patient with the top linen of the
bed.
• Take the opportunity to educate the patient on health during bath time.
Later educate his relatives about the importance of maintaining personal
hygiene.

33. AFTER CARE OF THE ARTICLES
• Take all the articles to the utility room, clean them with soap
and water. Dry them and replace at their respective places.
• Disinfect the linen and other articles in case the patient is
suffering from any communicable disease.