Bathing is an important part of your patient’s daily care. Not only does it remove sweat, oil, and micro-organisms from the patient’s skin, but it also stimulates circulation and promotes a feeling of self-worth by improving the patient’s appearance. For patients who are on bedrest, bathing can also be a time for socialization.
Besides its therapeutic benefits, bathing is also an opportune time for you both to communicate with your patient and to perform a head-to-toe skin assessment. Using both inspection and palpation, assess the skin’s color, texture, and temperature. Be sure to assess skin turgor and for any areas of redness or skin breakdown