Hygiene and Comfort
Factor Influencing Individual Hygienic Practices
Factor | Variables |
Culture | North American culture places a high value on cleanliness. Many North Americans bathe or shower once or twice a day, whereas people from some other cultures bathe once a week. Some cultures consider privacy essential for bathing, whereas others practice communal bathing. Body odor is offensive in some cultures and accepted normal in others. |
Religion | Ceremonial washings are practiced by some religion |
Environment | Finances may affect the availability f facilities for bathing. For example, homeless people may not have warm water available; soap, shampoo, shaving lotion, and deodorants may be too expensive for people who have limited resources. |
Developmental Level | Children learn hygiene in home. Practices vary according to the individual’s age; for example, preschoolers can carry out most tasks independently with encouragement. |
Health and Energy | Ill people may not have the motivation or energy to attend to hygiene. Some clients who have neuromuscular impairments may be unable o perform hygienic care. |
Personal Preferences | Some people prefer a shower to tub bath. People have different preferences regarding the time of bathing (e.g. morning versus evening) |
Skin Care
General Guidelines for Skin Care
- An intact, healthy skin is the body’s first line of defense
- The degree to which the skin protects the underlying tissues from injury depends on the amount of subcutaneous tissue and the dryness of the skin.
- Moisture in contact with the skin can result in increased bacterial growth and irritation.
- Body odors are caused by resident skin bacteria acting on the body secretions. Cleanliness is the best deodorant.
- Skin sensitivity to irritation and injury varies among individuals and in accordance with their health.
- Agents used for skin care have selective actions and purposes. E.g. soap, detergent, bath oil, cream, lotion, powder, deodorant, and antiperspirant.
Common Skin Problem
Problem and Appearance | Nursing Implication |
Abrasion
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Excessive Dryness
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Ammonia Dermatitis (Diaper Rash)
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Acne
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Erythema
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Hirsutism
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Bathing
- Bathing removes accumulated oil, perspiration, dead skin cells, and some bacteria.
- Excessive bathing, can interfere with the intended lubricating effect of sebum, causing dryness of the skin.
- Bathing stimulates circulation
- Bathing offers an excellent opportunity for the nurse to assess all clients.
Cleaning baths
Given chiefly for hygiene purposes and include these types:
- Complete bed bath. The nurse washes the entire body of a dependent client in bed.
- Self- help bed bath. Clients confined to bed are able to bathe themselves with help from the nurse for washing the back and perhaps the feet.
- Partial bath (abbreviated bath). Only the parts of the client’s body that might cause discomfort or odor, if neglected, are washed: the face, hands, axillae, perineal area and back.
- Bag bath. This bath is a commercially prepared product that contains 10 to 12 presoaked disposable washcloths that contain no- rinse cleanser solution.
- Tub bath. Tub baths are often preferred to bed baths because it is easier to wash and rinse in a tub.
- Shower. Many ambulatory clients are able to use shower facilities and require only minimal assistance from the nurse.
Ear Care
Nursing Interventions
- Cleanse the pinna with moist wash cloth
- Remove visible cerumen by retracting the ears downward. If this is ineffective, irrigate the ear as ordered.
- Do not use bobby pins, toothpicks or cotton-tipped applicators to remove cerumen. These can rupture the tympanic membrane or traumatize the ear canal. Cotton- tipped applicators can push wax into the ear canal, which can cause blockage.
Eye Care
Nursing Interventions
- Cleanse the eyes from the inner cantus to the outer cantus. Use a new cotton ball for each wipe. To prevent contamination of the nasolacrimal ducts.
- If the client is comatose, cover the ayes with sterile moist compresses. To prevent dryness and irritation of the cornea.
- Eyeglass should be cleaned with warm water and soap; dried with soft tissue.
- Clean contact lens as directed by the manufacturer
- To remove artificial eyes, wear clean gloves, depress the client’s lower eyelid.
- Hold the artificial eye with thumb and index finger
- Clean the artificial eye with warm normal saline, then place in a container with water or saline solution.
- Avoid rubbing the eyes. This may cause infection.
- Maintain adequate lighting when reading.
- Avoid regular use of eye drops
- If dirt/ foreign bodies get into eyes, clean them with copious, clean, tepid water as an emergency treatment.