During a bed bath, which practice is correct?

• A. Keep the resident exposed as much as possible.
• B. Wash eyes from inner to outer with the same cloth.
• C. Keep the resident covered as much as possible with blanket or towels; wash eyes from inside out without soap using a different part of the washcloth for each eye, starting with the opposite eye first; for female, wash under each breast, rinse and pat dry; keep towel over chest.
• D. Use soap on eyes.

Answer: (C)

During a bed bath, the important idea is to protect dignity, warmth, and hygiene by keeping the resident covered as much as possible while performing necessary cleansing in a safe order. This approach preserves privacy and reduces the chance of chilling the person.

For the eyes, use a clean portion of washcloth for each eye and wipe from the inner corner toward the outer corner, starting with the eye farthest from you. This helps prevent transferring any discharge from one eye to the other. Do not use soap in the eyes; rinse gently and pat dry.

For a female resident, wash under each breast as you would other body areas, then rinse and pat dry. Keeping a towel over the chest during this part helps maintain modesty and warmth.

Overall, this method minimizes cross-contamination, protects privacy, and maintains comfort while ensuring proper cleansing.