Hygiene and Patient Environment Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Hygiene and Care of the Patient's Environment

• This chapter covers hygiene and environmental care for patients.
• It discusses the therapeutic hospital room environment.
• It describes personal hygiene practices.
• It details variations in bath procedures based on patient condition and physician orders.
• It explains the procedure for a bed bath.
• It identifies nursing interventions for preventing and treating pressure ulcers.
• It discusses heat and cold therapy and related procedures.
• It describes procedures for oral hygiene, shaving, hair care, nail care, eye, ear, and nose care.
• It outlines the procedure for a back rub.

Patient's Room Environment

• Factors affecting the patient's environment include a comfortable and safe environment
• Important factors include temperature, ventilation, noise levels, odors, and lighting.

Life Span Considerations (Older Adults)

• Older adults may experience factors like becoming chilled, limited mobility, impaired circulation, and adverse effects of soaps and detergents on their skin when doing hygiene care.

Room Equipment

• Essential room equipment includes bedside stands, beds, overbed tables, chairs, and lights.

Hygiene

• Principles of health include holistic care encompassing skin, hair, hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, back, and perineum.
• Personal hygiene consists of self-care measures to maintain health and prevent diseases.
• Nurses are vital role models and teachers demonstrating proper hygiene.

Bathing

• Often, unlicensed assistive personnel perform bathing tasks.
• Therapeutic baths include cool water tub baths, warm water tub baths, hot water tub baths, and sitz baths.

Other Baths

• Bath types include complete bed baths, partial assistance during bed baths, tepid sponge baths, and medicated baths.

Pressure Injuries

• Normal skin characteristics are important to consider
• Impaired skin integrity can lead to pressure injuries.
• Pressure injuries occur when persistent pressure on the skin causes blood vessel collapse.
• Factors influencing pressure injuries include shearing force and friction.
• Prevention and interventions for pressure injuries are essential.

Stages of Pressure Injuries

• Stage I: Localized skin area with nonblanchable redness.
• Stage II: Partial-thickness loss of dermis.
• Stage III: Full-thickness tissue loss, subcutaneous fat, tendon or muscle visible.
• Stage IV: Full-thickness tissue loss, exposed bone, tendon or muscle.
• Unstageable/unclassified Injuries involve full-thickness tissue loss with a wound base covered by eschar or slough

Heat and Cold Therapy

• Patients with injuries often benefit from heat or cold therapy application.
• Heat applications promote comfort and healing.
• Cold applications decrease swelling and pain.
• Heat and cold therapy can be applied in either dry or moist form.

Components of Patient's Hygiene

• This category includes; oral hygiene, hair care, shaving, hand, foot, and nail care, perineal care, and eye, ear, and nose care.

Back Care and Back Rubs

• Back care and related rubs are provided post-bathing.
• Back rubs promote relaxation, relieve muscle tension, and stimulate circulation.
• Understanding contraindications is crucial for safe back rubs.

Lesson 9.2: Further Hygiene and Care of the Patient's Environment

• This lesson continues the discussion of patient care.
• It covers procedures for perineal care (male and female).
• It discusses skin care procedures.
• It describes procedures for making unoccupied and occupied beds.
• Patient assistance with bedpans, urinals, and bedside commodes is addressed.

Perineal Care

• Care of the genitalia (male and female) is part of perineal care.
• Catheter care is also included.

Skin Care

• Skin condition changes influence color, texture, thickness, turgor, temperature, and hydration.
• Healthy and intact skin maintains optimal physiologic function.

Bedmaking

• Patient beds are typically made in the morning after bathing.
• Empty beds are made when possible.
• Occupied bed making is a high priority, balancing safety, comfort, and privacy.

Assisting the Patient with Elimination

• This section details how to assist patients with bedpans and urinals.
• It also describes care for incontinent patients.

This quiz focuses on Chapter 9, which delves into hygiene and the care of a patient's environment. It covers essential practices including personal hygiene, the management of a therapeutic hospital room, and nursing interventions to prevent pressure ulcers. Additionally, it addresses specific considerations for older adults to ensure their comfort and safety.