In what position should an unconscious patient resident be placed when performing oral care?

What kind of bath is given to a resident who is unconscious?

A partial bath includes these areas:

  • Face
  • Hands
  • Underarms
  • Genital Area

When bathing a resident. the CNA notices swelling around the knee that is tender to touch. The CNA should report this observation to the nurse when?

After bed bath is finished, but if there is a skin tear, report immediately. 

When preparing for a bed bath, the CNA should adjust the water temperate to...

Change bed bath water whenever it becomes...

To assist a resident into the bathtub you should ask the resident to...

Hold onto the grab abr as he/she steps into the tub.

When should oral hygiene be done?

Upon waking up, after meals, and at bedtime.

An unconscious resident should be placed on ? position when performing oral care.

Lateral side (side-lying, head-to-side).

When should dentures be cleaned?

Before breakfast, lunch, supper, and at bedtime.

When giving oral hygiene to an unconscious resident you should...

Prevent the resident from aspirating (breathing in) any fluid.

Clean fingernails with a ...

If a resident asks you to cut their very thick and painful toenail, you should...

NOT cut the toenail and report the request to the nurse.

Before combing/brushing a residents hair...

Place a towel over the residents shoulder.

  • Shampoo
  • Shampoo tray
  • Plastic sheet or bag
  • Pitcher and basin

The purpose of shampooing the resident's hair is...

To maintain cleanliness and well-being.

In order to safely shave a resident will a safety razor...

Keep the skin taut while being shaved.

The order in dressing a paralyzed/injured person is ...

Dress affected side

first

, undress affect side

last

.

If a resident to be weighed daily, then...

Consistently weigh the resident during the same time of day.

In order to prevent problems/complications several days after a surgery...

Tell the resident to cough and breath deeply every 2 hours.

If a resident cannot stand up when needing to record their height then...

Measure their height while they are still laying in bed.

When can you use a safety razor in order to shave a resident who is confused and disorientated?

What can you not use when collecting supplies for colostomy care?

Alcohol wipes.
You need clean gloves, a bedpan, and toilet tissue.

When can you change a colostomy bag?

When the bag is leaking... that's nasty.

A confused resident who does not like to be bathed should...

Not be forced into the shower or tub.

Which parts of the body are more prone to developing pressure sores?

Boney areas such as: shoulder blades, elbows, heels, and knees.

The following foot care procedures are required for a resident who is paralyzed from the waist down:

  • Wash and dry feet carefully and thorughly.
  • Check for any pressure signs.

Cannot control their bladder or bowels.

A CNA should clean the resident's genital and anal area ? times a day, and when the resident is soiled.

When preparing to shave a resident, you should...

Soften the resident's facial hair by using a warm towel.

Importance of Oral Care in Nursing:

Oral care or mouth care is one of the most basic nursing activities. Keeping the mouth and teeth clean will protect a patient’s oral health and allow quicker recovery by preventing infections. The patient is unconscious, oral care will be needed more frequently. Unconscious patients usually breathe through the mouth, causing secretions to dry. It is a vital aspect of patient care that needs to be carried out consistently by a nurse. The nurse plays an important role in providing effective oral care and promoting oral hygiene of an unconscious patient. Nurses should be aware of risk factors associated with poor oral health and be able to assess and help patients maintain oral hygiene. In another article, I have shared an article about mouth care procedures for conscious patients. You may follow it.

In what position should an unconscious patient resident be placed when performing oral care?
Fig: Oral care procedure in nursing

Supplies and Equipment for Unconscious Patient:

A tray containing supplies and equipment  needed for oral care or mouth care are listed in the following:

  1. Small mackintosh–1,
  2. Towel—1,
  3. Kidney tray-2,
  4. Gauze piece or cotton balls,
  5. Mouth wash solution (0.12% Chlorhexidine or 05% Cetylpyridinium Chloride),
  6. Galipot-1(Denture soaking solution),
  7. Gloves,
  8. The aseptic syringe or irrigating bulb,
  9. A suction catheter with a suction apparatus,
  10. A cotton ball with artery forceps,
  11. Gauze padded tongue depressor,
  12. Mouth gag (if patients unconscious to open the mouth),
  13. Plain water in a mug,
  14. Paper bag.

Mouth Care Procedure for Unconscious Patient:

Oral care procedures are used for patients who are unconscious or who are not able to eat or drink.

  1. Arrange all equipment on the bedside cabinet or an overbed table.
  2. Set the patient’s bed in a comfortable position and lower one side rail.
  3. Place a bulb syringe or suction machine with a suction machine nearby.
  4. Place the client in a side-lying position and raise the level of the bed on one side so that the patient is in a partial sitting position.
  5. Rinse your hands properly with antiseptic soap and lukewarm water.
  6. Wear gloves after drying hands.
  7. Place towel or waterproof pad under the client’s chin and Wrap the patient’s chest
  8. Keep the kidney tray under the patient’s cheek or remove secretions from the mouth by the suction catheter.
  9. Use a padded tongue blade to open teeth gently. Never put your fingers in an unconscious patient’s mouth.
  10. Turn the head of the patient towards you in a very gentle manner.
  11. A clean mouth, gums, teeth, and tongue with toothbrush and toothpaste.
  12. Use an Asepto syringe or irrigating bulb without a needle to rinse the oral cavity. Swab or use oral suction to remove pooled secretions
  13. Clean immediately after brushing and Suction the saliva and toothpaste from the mouth of the patient.
  14. Wipe out the extra water on the mouth with a clean small towel.
  15. Removes basin dries face and mouth, and applies water-soluble lip moisturizer.
  16. Bring the patient back to a comfortable position.
  17. Raise side rail and lower bed position.
  18. Dispose of gloves in a paper bag and wash hands properly.
  19. Report & documents oral findings and procedure.

Oral Care Instructions for Unconscious Patients:

Some important general instructions for ICU patients must be maintained during oral care or mouth care delivery:

  1. Sit the patient fully upright to prevent aspiration during mouth cleaning.
  2. Inspect the patient’s oral cavity (lips, gums, teeth, tongue, inside cheeks, and mucosa of floor and roof of the mouth) for any sign of dryness, edema, redness, bleeding, or other debris.
  3. Choose the appropriate devices and cleaning products for oral cavities.
  4. Use Yankauer suction to remove excessive secretions and loose debris.
  5. Avoid oral care with Hydrogen Peroxide if oral thrush or oral lesions present.
  6. Use toothpaste to brush the teeth and use an electric suction toothbrush to reduce the risk for aspiration of contaminated water.
  7. If dentures present, remove and gently brush and rinse. Soak dentures overnight.
  8. Gently brush teeth in circular motions at a 45-degree angle to the gum line.
  9. Brush for 1-2 minutes to remove plaque build-up.
  10. Use 0.05% Cetylpyridinium Chloride (anti-fungal and anti-bacterial) containing mouthwash to reduce the risk of infection and to remove plaque.

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In what position should an unconscious patient resident be placed when performing oral care?

Maria Katun Mona is a Nursing and Midwifery Expert. Currently she is working as a Registered Nurse at Evercare Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She has great passion in writing different articles on Nursing and Midwifery. Mail her at

In what position should an unconscious patient resident be placed when performing oral care?

What position should a resident be in when assisting with oral hygiene?

Lower the side rail if necessary and put on gloves. Before you begin, position the resident as his condition allows to a semi-Fowler's or lateral position. Turn the resident's head to one side to prevent aspiration during the procedure. Put a waterproof pad and towel on the pillow underneath the resident's chin.

When giving mouth care to an unconscious resident the nurse aide should?

What's the process of oral care for an unconscious patient?.
Gather supplies..
Check identification bracelet or name tag..
Introduce self, tell patient what you are going to do, provide privacy..
Wash hands, put on gloves..
Raise bed to comfortable height to perform oral care and raise head of bed 30 degrees..

When putting in dentures it is important to CNA?

CNAs are not generally required to take a patient's dentures out or put them in. This is a safety measure for both the CNA and the patient.

Where should the nursing assistant start when giving the resident a bath?

During the bath, the aide should work from head to toe to prevent spreading pathogens from the perineal area to other parts of the body. Start with the face and neck, then proceed to the front and back of the upper body, then the front and back of the legs, and finish with the perineal area.