The author of this essay is a Health Care Assistant (HCA) student who is on work experience in a short stay hospital. For the purpose of this essay the HCA will discuss the skills that are needed in assisting a patient with a bed bath. The HCA will place emphasis on making sure that the patient’s privacy and dignity is maintained throughout the process of the bed bath. The HCA will also highlight the importance of the promotion of independence, communication with the patient and safety of the patient while assisting the patient with a bed bath.
The HCA will be assisting a patient whom is an 86 year old woman. For the purpose of this essay the patient…show more content… The HCA will also put the patient’s face cloth into a blue bag to be washed. The HCA will then help assist the patient by washing between the patient’s legs making sure to wash everywhere to ensure that the patient does not get an infection or get sore. The HCA will then dry the patient placing powder in places where the patient may get sore and red. The HCA will then have to get assistance from a colleague to help the patient onto their side. The HCA does this to minimise discomfort for the patient. The HCA will then wash the patient quickly and dry the area placing powder where the patient may get sore. The HCA will then help the patient dress her bottom half. When the patient is dressed the HCA will ask the patient if she would like to brush her hair. When the patient is finished the HCA must ensure that the patient is happy and comfortable.
When the patient has been washed, dressed and is comfortable in bed the HCA will then place the patient’s dirty laundry and towels into the laundry bags. The HCA will then clean out the water from the patient’s basin making sure to disinfect the basin when finished. The HCA will place all the patients’ soaps and moisturisers into the patient’s basin so that they will not get lost and then places them into the patient’s wardrobe. The HCA will then wash her hands making sure to dry them thoroughly with disposable