Home Health Aide Student Portal

Chapter 3

Changing Adult Briefs

Changing an Incontinence Garment

When: An incontinence garment should be changed every 2 hours or more frequently when soiled.

Why: An incontinence garment is changed to maintain the integrity of the skin and to keep the client clean, dry, and odor free. Peri-care is to be performed with each incontinent garment change.

What: Supplies needed for this skill include

  • Gloves
  • Bed protector, as needed
  • Supplies for performing peri-care
  • Barrier creams, as needed
  • Incontinence garment

How:

  1. Complete your opening procedure steps.
  2. The client should be lying in bed, on his back with the bed flat. Fanfold the bed linens to the client’s knees.
  3. Raise one side rail. Move to the opposite side of the bed where the side rail is not raised.
  4. Don gloves.
  5. If the client is wearing a hospital gown, pull it up slightly to expose the perineum. If the client is wearing pajama bottoms, lower them to his knees.
  6. If the bed protector under the client is soiled, remove and replace it with a clean one. Place the soiled bed protector in the linen bag. If there is no bed protector under the client, place one under him to protect the bed linens from becoming soiled.
  7. If the client was incontinent, complete perineal care. Apply barrier cream as indicated on the care plan. Remove gloves and discard into the wastebasket. Hand wash or hand sanitize, as appropriate.
  8. Don a clean pair of gloves.
  9. Ask the client to reach over himself, grab onto the side rail, and roll over. Assist him if he is unable.
  10. Open the incontinence brief. Position the brief on the bed so that the back side of the brief will be under and aligned with the client’s buttocks. The back side of the brief has the fastening tabs attached to it.
  11. Tuck one side of the incontinence brief under the hip that the client is lying on.
  12. Ask the client to roll back to the supine position. Assist him if he is unable.
  13. Roll him slightly toward you to free the side of the brief from under the hip. Pull free the side of the brief that you tucked under the client.
  14. With the client lying on his back with the bed flat, pull the incontinence brief up and over the perineal area. Ensure that the brief is even on both sides, providing complete coverage over the perineal area. Fasten the tabs on each side of the brief.
  15. Remove gloves and discard into the wastebasket. Hand wash or hand sanitize, as appropriate.
  16. Continue to dress the client.
  17. Complete your closing procedure steps.