Chapter 32: Assisting patients with their hygiene needs

Case study: Daisy

Daisy is twenty-seven and is a patient on an orthopaedic ward. She has been on strict bed rest for the last three days following surgery on her back. Daisy normally washes her hair every day and says that not being able to do this is making her feel ‘really unclean’, because it looks ‘greasy, messy and dirty’. Daisy has shoulder length hair, which has been in a plait since her operation, which now looks untidy, greasy and lank. Daisy’s family have brought her favourite hair shampoo, conditioner and styling products, plus her brush and comb in to the ward and Daisy has asked whether her hair can be washed today.

  1. What actions would you take before agreeing to wash Daisy’s hair?

  2. What equipment would you need to wash Daisy’s hair?

  3. How would you wash her hair whilst she is on bed rest and how should it be cared for on a daily basis?

› Solution

1. Before agreeing to wash Daisy’s hair it is necessary to ensure that doing this will not cause any potential problems following her recent surgery, that she is able to move her neck freely and tolerate the procedure, without being in pain.

2. You would need the following equipment to wash Daisy’s hair:

  • bed hair-rinser
  • towel ×3
  • large incontinence pads
  • Daisy’s shampoo, conditioner and styling products
  • brush and comb
  • bowl ×2
  • warm water
  • jug
  • mirror
  • hairdryer if local policy allows

3. Daisy’s hair should be washed following the ‘Step by step clinical skill: Washing a patient’s hair (in bed)’. As Daisy is being cared for in an acute ward setting it is likely that you will be able to arrange her bed-space with minimal effort to enable you to follow the procedure and set the height of her bed to care for your back.

Caring for Daisy’s hair on a daily basis involves brushing and combining it daily, plus other times as required, styling it as she desires and shampooing it as needed to ensure it remains clean. Brushing and combing Daisy’s hair should be part of her routine care, as this will not only make her feel better but also stimulates circulation, distributes natural oils evenly and removes dust. Always handle her hair gently when brushing and combing, if the hair is thick divide it in to sections and work on one area at a time. Observe the appearance of her scalp and hair whilst you are doing this and always clean the comb or brush after using them, remembering only to use her brush and comb, never to share.