Authors (including presenting author) :
Yeung MT, Wong YL, Yeung TP
Affiliation :
(1)Integrated Ward, Prince of Wales Hospital
Introduction :
Providing basic hygiene care is a fundamental nursing care. Apart from promoting hygiene, bathing enhances patient’s dignity and comfort/satisfaction.
Before changes, there is no sustainable system to ensure patients’ bathing needs are met. It is arranged during weekend only and “if time and manpower feasible” In fact, bathing is seldom performed as this is “stereotyped” as “low priority” and seems “acceptable” in acute ward. Under such arrangement, some nurses in particular senior level did not perform bathing for long time. “Role modeling” is very important to influence the team performance. Eventually, “bathing” is naturally “skipped” when ward was busy, which is suboptimal patient care
Objectives :
1. To engage senior staff to set up “Role Modeling” in bathing
2. To develop “sustainable” bathing system: change culture/habit from “weekly” to “daily” even though in acute ward
3. To change “Mind Set” of nursing team: upgrading bathing to nursing care with higher priority
4. To optimize manpower utilization after change of practice: no additional manpower with care enhanced
Methodology :
New bathing system to engage all level of staff (APNs, RNs, PCAs) was established with frequency changed from “weekly” to “daily” without additional manpower. Process of patient selection was replaced by “Bathing Roster”. Under bathing roster (“1 day 1 cubicle”), all patients within assigned cubicle would be invited to take bath (including independent and assisted bath). Responsible staff members will perform bathing to all patients within assigned cubicle every day no matter the duration of hospital stay. Nurses needed to document the vital signs pre- and post-bathing and the patient with bating done for monitor. Nurses and PCAs will assist patient bathing at the overlapping time of Am and Pm shift with no extra manpower is needed after implementation of 5 days’ work.
Result & Outcome :
After systemic bathing practice was introduced since Aug 2022, patient had bathing despite their length of stay is less than 7 days. Role modeling of bathing by senior nurses (APN level) was set up to lead the change. “Sustainable” daily bathing system” was successfully implemented which involved all level of nurses and supporting staff with “Mind set” and culture changed. Without additional manpower, bathing routine was successfully changed from “weekly” to “daily” and such changes were welcome by the team. Both patients and staff satisfaction were enhanced.
