Home Health Aide Student Portal
Click on the skills to review procedures discussed in this chapter.
Opening Procedure
Wash hands
Knock on the door
Introduce yourself
Explain the procedure clearly, using eye contact and ensuring understanding
Provide privacy (if needed)
Ensure bed is at proper height for procedure, bed is locked, and side rail is down for good body mechanics
Use gloves on any procedure that might provide exposure to blood or body fluids
Post-Mortem Care
When: Post-mortem care is provided after the client has died.
Why: The body is bathed and prepared for family viewing before it is removed from the home.
What: Supplies needed for this skill include
- Basin of warm water
- Gloves
- Soap
- Two washcloths (minimum)
- Two towels (minimum)
- Adult wipes
- Two bed protectors (minimum)
- Incontinence brief
- Oral swabs
- Hospital gown
- Bed linens as needed
How:
- Complete your opening procedure steps as appropriate.
- Obtain extra help to roll the client.
- Ask family members if they would prefer to step out of the room while you are caring for the client. Encourage them to do so.
- Complete a partial bed bath.
- Prior to rolling the client over for perineal care, line the side of the bed that the client will be rolled toward with bed protectors. This way, a bed protector is covering the bed linens at the level of the client’s mouth and at the level of her perineal area.
- After rolling the client over, use the adult wipes to wipe away any stool. Discard the wipes into the wastebasket after using. Place an incontinence brief on the client to contain any further stooling.
- Remove the additional bed protectors from the bed and place in the linen bag. Change any bed linens that have been soiled. Place the soiled bed linens in the linen bag.
- Remove gloves and discard into the wastebasket. Hand wash or hand sanitize, as appropriate.
- The client should now be lying flat in a supine position. Raise the head of the bed to a semi-Fowler’s position.
- Dress the client in a clean gown and cover her up to the chest with the bed linens. Place the arms and hands in a natural position on top of the bed linens.
- Don gloves.
- Complete oral care with the oral swabs. Use as many oral swabs as needed to clean the mouth. After each swab use, immediately discard the swab in the wastebasket.
- If the client wore dentures, insert them into her mouth. Close the client’s mouth. If it will not stay closed, attempt to elevate the head with one more pillow.
- Close the client’s eyes. If the client wore glasses, place them on her.
- Place any religious objects that were important to the client next to her or in her hands.
- Remove gloves and discard into the wastebasket. Hand wash or hand sanitize, as appropriate.
- Tidy the room, empty the wastebaskets, and use air freshener as needed before allowing the family members to return to the client’s room.
- Complete your closing procedure steps as appropriate.
Closing Procedure
Ensure that the bedside table is within reach
Ask if the client needs anything before you go
Put bed in low position with side rail up, making sure bed is still locked
Remove gloves, if worn
Provide call light within reach
Open privacy curtain
Wash hands