Skin Care

Purpose

• Prevention of infection
• Prevention and/or reduction of pressure areas
• Temperature maintenance
• Removal of dead skin and other waste products
• Reduction of body odour
• Promotion of self-dignity

Where possible, clients should be allowed to be self-caring with skin care. Where this is not possible, then this should be carried out maintaining the client’s dignity at all time. Clients’ choices and individual preferences should be listened to and acted upon. If these choices and preference conflict with nursing research or accepted nursing practice and could cause damage to the worker or the client themselves, then this should be pointed out to them in a sensitive manner, acknowledging that they have the right to choose their own individual care.

Procedure

1. Discuss the procedure with the client, explaining what they want and if this is possible to happen with regard to present resources.
2. Collect the relevant equipment:-
• Wash cloth/flannel
• Bowl of water (water should be between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius or to clients choice
• Soap
• Towel
• Other toiletries of the clients choice and other equipment necessary
3. Take the equipment to the client
4. Ensure privacy by shutting any doors or drawing curtains as necessary
5. Don latex gloves and apron in accordance with universal precautions
6. Allow the client to test water where possible as to see if the water is the correct temperature for them.
7. Wash face first, offering the use of soap if requested. Do not allow soap to go into the eye as this is not only very painful but also detrimental to the cornea
8. Do not use excessive amounts of soap as this can cry the skin
9. Always wash off soap
10. Change water before/after washing genital area to reduce the spread of infection.
11. Do not rub dry to hard as this can cause skin sheering. Patting the skin dry with a towel
12. Apply any creams as directed by Registered Nurse
13. Change any soiled or wet linen
14. After the procedure is finished, assist client to a comfortable condition as necessary.

posted by alanpjack  # 5:37 AM