Editing Fundamentals of Nursing (section)

=== Bathing ===

* Test water temperature; approximately 43 to 46 degrees Celsius (110 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit) is a typical range for bathing, and it should always be verified against the patient's own tolerance. Older adults and patients with neuropathy or diabetes have reduced thermal sensation and are at high risk for burns.
* Wash from clean to dirty and from head to toe, saving the perineum for last.
* '''Eyes:''' wash from the inner canthus to the outer canthus using a separate portion of the washcloth for each eye, to avoid transferring organisms into the lacrimal duct or between eyes.
* '''Perineal care:''' clean from front to back. For an uncircumcised male, retract the foreskin, clean, and always return it to its natural position to prevent paraphimosis.
* Use gentle patting to dry, especially in skin folds and between the toes. Apply moisturizer to dry skin but not between the toes.
* Raise the side rails when leaving the bedside, and never leave a weak patient unattended in a tub or shower.