Personal Hygiene Personal hygiene practices well vary widely among persons.

. Well people are ordinarily responsible for their own hygiene. In some cases the nurse assist well person through teaching to develop personal habits the person may lack. Hygiene: is self care by which people attended to such function as bathing, oral care, grooming hair, cleaning fingernails, genital area, ear and eye care. Etiologies of self care deficit Visual impairment. Activity intolerance or weakness. Pain or discomfort. Mental impairment. Therapeutic procedures. Skeletal impairment. Lack of information. It is the nurses responsibility to provide the patient with the opportunity for hygiene !! Cleansing by nurse is part of historical giving of care The more ill patient, the more skill needed in providing the hygiene care. Cleansing skin is first line of defense against organisms Functional level of the patient may described as following: Total dependent. Partial dependent. Independent. Factor influencing individual hygiene Culture Religion Environment Development level Health status Knowledge Personal preferences PURPOSE OF NURSE PROVIDED HYGIENE Remove microorganisms Do physical assessment Increase circulation Improve self image Provide comfort Perineal Care Hygienic measures related to the care of the genitalia Can be embarrassing for the nurse and the patient.

Should not be overlooked because of embarrassment. If the patient can do it themselveslet them. Hand them the washcloth and ask if they would like to finish their bath. Those patients who may need the nurses assistance: Vaginal or urethral discharge Skin irritation Catheter Surgical dressings Incontinent of urine or feces

Perineal Care Procedure Normal conditions, Discharge, Menses Women Wipe labia majora (outer) from front to back in downward motion using clean surface of wash cloth for each swipe. Wipe labia minora (inner) from front to back in downward motion using clean surface of wash cloth for each swipe Wipe down the center of the meatus from front to back. If catheter in place, clean around catheter in circular fashion, using clean surface of wash cloth for each swipe. Wash inner thighs from proximal to distal Men

Retract foreskin of penis if uncircumcised Wash around the urinary meatus in a circular motion, using clean surface of washcloth for each stroke and around the head of penis in circular motion Wash down shaft of penis toward the thighs changing washcloth position with each stroke Wash scrotum front to back Wash inner thighs