Basic Nursing Care Provided by the Nurse Aide
ADLs and hygiene
Basic care includes bathing, oral care, grooming, dressing, toileting, bed making, feeding, vital signs, intake and output, weights, and specimen collection. Protect privacy, explain each step, and promote independence. Use standard precautions and change washcloths and water as needed. During a bed bath, wash from clean to dirty: face and neck first, then arms, chest, abdomen, legs, back, and perineum last. Use separate areas of the washcloth for the eyes, wiping from inner to outer corner. Provide frequent oral care for unconscious residents, turn the head to the side, and follow suction precautions.
Measurement and specimens
Measure vital signs accurately and report values outside the resident’s usual range. Record all intake and output, including fluids taken with meals and medications. Label specimens correctly, collect them at the required time, and avoid touching the inside of the container. Weigh residents at the same time of day, on the same scale, with similar clothing when possible.
Traps
Never leave a resident unattended in the bath or on the toilet. Do not use the same washcloth area for the perineum and the face. Do not floss the teeth of an unconscious resident. Do not chart a task before completing it, and never chart care you did not provide.
Rule of thumb
Work clean to dirty, front to back, and protect dignity throughout. Example: before a bed bath, gather supplies, close the curtain, explain the procedure, and keep the resident covered except for the area being washed.