Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers

Bashir Bathes a Resident

Bashir is preparing to give a resident a bath. Bathing is one way to make the residents feel good and helps with keeping clean.  Bashir follows the correct steps to keep residents safe.

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The first step to safe bathing is to make a bathing schedule for the resident.  Bashir also tells the resident what is going to happen during the bathing. This makes for a safe bathing experience.

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Bashir knows that residents need privacy.  He makes sure that residents use curtains while bathing. Bashir doesn’t want residents to expose their bodies to other people.

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Bashir washes his hands before he gathers the bath supplies. He gets towels to wrap around the resident for privacy.  The towels also dry the resident and keep a resident warm. Bashir gets shampoo and soap for the bath.  Finally, he gets gloves to use if he helps the resident in the shower.

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Bashir makes sure the shower area is safe. The water should be lukewarm. He then makes sure the shower seat is comfortable. He puts down towels so the resident can sit on them if needed.  Bashir also puts a bath mat in the shower to prevent falls.

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Bashir wants the residents to have independence. He allows the resident to remove as much clothing as possible. He lets the resident know he is ready to help.

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Bashir allows the residents to wash themselves as much as they can.  He makes sure they start at the cleanest area and move to the dirtiest areas.  Usually, he begins at the head and moves down to the feet. He washes any area that the resident can’t reach. A washcloth over the resident’s eyes helps keep shampoo out.

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Finally, Bashir helps the resident out of the shower. He uses the towels to give privacy when he pats the resident dry. He doesn’t rub the skin because rubbing can cause irritation on the skin.  

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Bashir follows the steps carefully each time he helps a resident with bathing to keep the resident clean and safe.