Bedside care

Latest information on bedside care including day to day care and useful exercises. Click on Read More for more information about each article. Or click on the left navigation for organized topics.

Safe Feeding Techniques

Description

Adequate intake of food and fluids are a necessity of life. Physicians will often order changes in diets as well as changes in food and fluid consistencies. However, when a person is no longer able to feed themselves, what foods and fluids you feed them will be as important as how you feed them. The following is a review of safe feeding techniques that will help to prevent choking and food/fluids from getting into the airway (aspiration).

Steps

Breathing Exercise for Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis

Description
Breathing Exercises for People experiencing Difficulty Breathing due to Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis

Oxygen Use and Care of Equipment

Description

Oxygen therapy allows oxygen to be administered at a higher percentage than is found in our room air. It is a treatment, prescribed by your physician or medical care provider, and will include the rate (liters/minute flow) and indicate whether the oxygen will be delivered by a mask (which fits over your mouth and nose, or by a nasal cannula (soft plastic prongs that fit into you nostrils).

Oxygen can be supplied in a variety of ways.

Bathing and Skin Care

Description

Our skin is our body’s largest defense system. Preventing any skin breakdown is essential for health and comfort. This topic describes giving a basin bath for a bed bound person and skin care.

Preparing a bed for comfort and convenience

Description

Setting the bed up in this way will allow for easy turning using a pull sheet. A pull sheet allows leverage to be used but is comfortable for the bedbound person. Water proofing will protect the bed and allow for easy cleanup.

What you'll need

  • Waterproof mattress cover
  • Disposable paper pads/ or waterproof bed pad
  • Bed linens including additional queen sized Flat Sheet
  • Pillows 4-5 (use as needed)

Task time

5-10 minutes

Turning and repositioning a bedbound person

Description

Turning and repositioning of a bedbound person should occur every 2-3 hours to prevent skin breakdown and to maintain general comfort.

Mouth Care

Description
Mouth care includes cleaning the teeth, gums and tongue as well as removing and cleaning dentures and partials (false teeth). While mouth care is important to help prevent tooth decay and infections, it also aids in keeping the airway open and enhances the ability to swallow. Gentle mouth care also provides much comfort.

Tube Feeding

Description
Tubes placed in the stomach are commonly referred to as feeding tubes, gastrostomy tubes or peg tubes. Surgically incisions are made into the abdomen and tubes are placed which allow nutrients “feeding” to be put directly into the stomach.

We will review the tube feeding procedure, how to perform insertion site care, and ways to prevent possible complications.

Making an occupied bed

Description

Step by step process for changing the linens of an occupied bed. It's not always possible or convenient to get the person out of bed.

Tracheostomy Care

Description
This topic describes daily care of a tracheostomy tube

Cleaning a Tracheostomy Tube is necessary to remove secretions, prevent infections, to keep an opened airway, and make breathing effortless.