The document outlines the bag technique used by public health nurses during home visits, emphasizing infection control and patient care. It details the necessary contents of the public health bag and step-by-step procedures for wound assessment and dressing changes. Key principles include maintaining cleanliness, protecting the nurse's uniform, and thorough documentation of patient care and wound status.

1. BAG TECHNIQUE

2. ⮚ Public health bag
- is an essential and indispensable
equipment of a public health nurse,
which she has to carry along, during
her home visits. It contains
basic medication and articles which
are necessary for giving care.

3. PRINCIPLES
✔The use of the bag technique should minimize, if not totally prevent
the spread of infection.
✔It should save time and effort in the performance of nursing
procedures.
✔It should not overshadow concern for the patient.
✔It shows the effectiveness of total care given to individual or family.
✔It should contain all necessary articles and equipment.

4. PRINCIPLES
✔The bag and its contents should be cleaned as often as possible.
✔It should be protected from contact with any article in the home of
the patient.
✔The arrangements of the bag contents should be convenient.
✔Handwashing should be done frequently.
✔When used in a communicable case, the PHN bags should be
thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before keeping and re-using.

5. CONTENTS:
✔ Paper lining
✔ Plastic/linen lining
✔ Extra paper (waste bag and disinfected
equipment)
✔ Waterproof bag
✔ Apron
✔ Hand towel
✔ Soap in a soap dish
✔ Thermometers
✔ 2 pairs of scissors (surgical and bandage)
✔ 2 pairs of forceps (curved and straight)
✔ Disposable syringes with needles (g. 23 & 25)
✔ Hypodermic needles (g. 19, 22, 23, 25)
✔ Kidney basin
✔ Medicine cup
✔ Sterile dressing
✔ Cotton balls
✔ Cord clamp
✔ Micropore plaster
✔ Tape measure
✔ 1 pair of sterile gloves
✔ 1 pair of clean gloves
✔ Baby’s scale
✔ Solutions of:
o Betadine
o 70% alcohol
o Hydrogen peroxide
o Spirit of ammnonia

6. 1. Upon arrival at the client’s home, look for an area
with a good lighting condition. Open the bag, take
the paper lining on a table or any flat surface
(note: the clean side must be out, folded part
touching the table). Place the bag on the table
lined with a clean paper, put the bag handles or
straps beneath the bag.
Rationale: To protect the bag from contamination

7. 2. Ask for a basin of water and a glass of
water if faucet is not available.
Rationale: This is to be used for hand
washing

8. 3. Place these outside the work
area.
Rationale: To protect the work
area from getting wet.

9. 4. Take the plastic lining and spread over the
work field area. (note: the clean side must
be out, folded part touching the paper lining).
Rationale: To make a non-contaminated
work area.

10. 5. Take out hand towel, soap with soap dish
and apron. Place them on one corner of the
work area (within the confines of the plastic
lining).
Rationale: This is a preparation for hand
washing

11. 6. Do hand washing. Wipe to dry using
towel.
Rationale: Hand washing prevents
possible infection from care provider to
the client.

12. 7. Put on the apron, (note: clean side out and
exposed side is touching the body), slide the
head into the neck strap and neatly tie the
strap at the back.
Rationale: To protect the nurse’s uniform.
Keeping the crease creates aesthetic
appearance.

13. 8. Put out all the paraphernalia needed for
specific care (e.g., thermometer, kidney
basin, cotton balls, and waste paper bag)
and place it at one region of the work
area.
Rationale: To make materials readily
accessible.

14. 9. Place waste paper bag outside
of work area.
Rationale: To prevent
contamination of clean area

15. 10. Close the bag.
Rationale: To prevent the
contamination of the bag
and its contents.

16. 11. Proceed to the specific
nursing care treatment.
Rationale: To give comfort and security,
maintain personal hygiene and hasten
recovery.

17. 12. After completing nursing care treatment,
clean and sanitize the equipment used in
the procedure and put it all in the
paper/plastic bag.
Rationale: To protect health care provider
and prevent spread of infection to others.

18. 13. Perform again
handwashing.

19. 14. Open the bag and put back
all articles in their proper
place.

20. 15. Remove apron folding away
from the body with soiled side
folded inward and the clean
side outward. Place it in the
bag.

21. 16. Clean, then fold the
plastic lining; place it in
the bag, close the bag and
tie the straps of the bag.

22. 17. Make post visit conference with
mothers relevant to health care, taking
anecdotal notes for final reporting.
Rationale: To be used as reference for
future visit.

23. 18. Make an appointment for the next visit
(either home or clinic) taking note of
the date, time, and purpose.
Rationale: This is essential for follow-up
care.

24. 18. Get the bag and fold the paper
lining and insert it into the flaps of
the bag
Rationale: To maintain cleanliness
of the bag and keeping it from
contamination.

25. CLOSING
THANK YOU!

26. APPPYING WOUND
BARRIERS &
DRESSING

27. Open Wound
- is an injury involving an external or internal break in body
tissue, usually involving the skin. Falls, tumble, cuts, and accidents with
sharp objects are the most common causes of open wounds in the
community.
Purpose:
1. To promote wound healing by primary care.
2. To prevent infection.
3. To assess the healing process.
4. To prevent contamination from bodily discharge

28. 1. You need to Assess for the:
∙ Appearance and size of the wound or
at-risk skin area
∙ Amount and character of exudate
∙ For complaints of discomfort
∙ For signs of infection

29. 2. Assemble equipment and supplies:
∙ Clean gloves
∙ Sterile gloves (optional)
∙ Hair scissors or clippers (for hairy areas)
∙ Alcohol or acetone
∙ Moisture proof bag
∙ Wound cleaning agents specified by a physician or agency
∙ Wound barrier dressing
∙ Bandage Scissors
∙ Paper tape
∙ Variety of gauze dressing and pads
∙ Sterile kidney basin

30. 3. Explain to the client what
you are going to do, why it
is necessary, and how
he/she can cooperate.

31. 4. Wash hands and observe
other appropriate
infection control
procedures..

32. 5.Provide for client
privacy. Expose only the
wound area.

33. 6. Apply clean gloves and
remove the existing dressing,
discarding it into the
moisture proof bag.

34. 7. Thoroughly clean the skin area around the wound.
∙ Wash hands and put on clean gloves
∙ Clean the skin well with normal saline or a mild cleansing
agent
∙ Always rinse the adjacent skin well before applying a
dressing.
∙ Flip the hair about 5 cm (2 inches) around the wound
area if indicated
∙ Remove gloves, and dispose them in the moisture proof
bag

35. 8. Clean the wound, if indicated.
∙ Put on clean or sterile gloves in
accordance with the agency practice
∙ Clean the wound with the
prescribed solution
∙ Dry the surrounding skin with dry
gauze

36. 9. Assess the wound
10. Apply the wound barrier.
∙ Review the instructions on the barrier package
∙ Remove part of the paper backing on the dressing
∙ Apply the dressing at one edge of the wound site,
allowing atleast 2.5 cm (1inch) of coverage of the skin
surrounding the wound
∙ Gently lay or press the barrier over the wound. Keep it
free of wrinkles, but avoid stretching it too tightly.
∙ Remove and dispose of gloves appropriately.

37. 11. Reinforce the dressing only if absolutely needed. Apply paper or
other porous tape to “window frame” edges of the dressing.
12. Assess the wound atleast daily.
∙ Determine the extent of serous fluid accumulation under the
dressing, wound healing, and the need to repair the dressing.
∙ If the dressing is leaking, remove it and apply another dressing.
13. Document:
∙ Dressing change
∙ Wound status
∙ Clients response

38. CLOSING
THANK YOU!