Personal Hygiene Practices and Needs – Study Guide Flashcards

These flashcards review key concepts from the Personal Hygiene Practices and Needs study guide, covering factors influencing hygiene, developmental and health considerations, the nursing process, specific care techniques, safety, cultural sensitivity, and evaluation of patient outcomes.

What is personal hygiene in the nursing context and why is it important?

Personal hygiene consists of cleaning and grooming activities that maintain body cleanliness and appearance, directly influencing a patient’s comfort, safety, and overall well-being.

Why must nurses apply clinical judgment during hygiene care?

Clinical judgment allows nurses to integrate assessment data, respect patient preferences, ensure privacy and safety, and tailor hygiene interventions to individual needs.

Which six broad factors influence an individual’s personal hygiene practices?

Social practices, personal preferences, body image, socioeconomic status, health beliefs & motivation, and cultural factors.

How do family customs in childhood shape hygiene habits?

They set patterns for bathing frequency and timing and establish oral-care routines such as brushing and flossing.

What influence do peers and media have on adolescent hygiene?

They heighten concern for appearance; increased sebaceous and sweat gland activity leads adolescents to bathe and shampoo more often.

How can limited finances alter hygiene for older adults or people experiencing homelessness?

Lack of money may limit access to soap, shampoo, deodorant, or home modifications like grab bars, reducing ability to maintain hygiene.

Why is motivation often more critical than knowledge in adopting healthy hygiene behaviors?

Patients act when they believe a behavior is beneficial, see themselves at risk, and think the problem is serious enough to warrant change.

Give two examples of cultural considerations a nurse should respect during hygiene care.

Need for privacy/modesty (e.g., female modesty requiring a same-gender caregiver) and prohibitions on cutting or shaving hair without discussion.

Which developmental stage has thin, loosely bound skin that bruises and infects easily?

Neonates.

Why do adults who take frequent hot baths risk dry, flaky skin?

Hot water removes natural oils and decreases skin moisture, leading to dryness.

List three normal age-related skin changes in older adults.

Thinning epidermis, loss of resiliency, and decreased lubricating substances causing dryness and itching.

Name two common foot and nail issues in older adults and their causes.

Ulceration and deformities due to trauma, poor footwear, systemic diseases, or limited dexterity for self-care.

How does diabetes mellitus increase foot-care needs?

Vascular changes impair healing, raising the risk for ulceration and infection; daily inspection and preventive care are essential.

Why should feet of diabetic or peripheral vascular disease patients not be soaked?

Soaking causes maceration, increasing infection risk in patients with compromised circulation.

How can pain medications support hygiene care for patients with arthritis?

Administering analgesics about 30 minutes before care reduces discomfort and allows better participation in bathing or grooming.

What is the preferred nursing approach for patients with dementia during hygiene care?

Person-centered care: do not rush, use a calm voice, identify and avoid triggers of agitation, and promote independence.

During assessment, why might a nurse inspect beneath medical devices?

Pressure, moisture, and friction under devices can cause skin breakdown or Medical Device–Related Pressure Injuries (MDRPI).

Which four components make up a thorough hygiene nursing history?

Personal preferences, usual practices, cultural/religious customs, and desired amount of assistance.

What skin characteristics should be inspected during a hygiene assessment?

Color, texture, thickness, turgor, temperature, and hydration; also note lesions, redness, or moisture.

Which pulses are checked to assess foot circulation?

Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses.

How does poor oral care increase aspiration pneumonia risk in stroke patients?

Bacterial colonization in the oropharynx can be aspirated into the lungs when swallowing or gag reflexes are impaired.

Give two examples of nursing diagnoses related to hygiene.

Self-Care Deficit: Impaired Ability to Bathe, and Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity.

What is the purpose of setting patient-centered hygiene goals?

To establish realistic, measurable outcomes that respect the patient’s preferences, abilities, and resources.

Why is collaboration with occupational therapy valuable in hygiene care planning?

OT can provide adaptive equipment and teach techniques that increase patient independence in bathing, dressing, or grooming.

List four general principles nurses follow while implementing hygiene care.

Use a gentle, caring approach; give pain or anti-nausea medication beforehand; promote independence; and provide relevant teaching.

Name six common types of patient baths.

Complete bed bath, partial bed bath, sponge bath at sink, tub bath, shower, disposable (bag or travel) bath, and CHG bath.

Why is chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) used for some baths?

Its broad-spectrum antimicrobial action helps reduce hospital-acquired infections, especially before surgery or for ICU patients.

What safety measures reduce fall risk during showers?

Non-skid mats or socks, shower chairs, warm (not hot) water, call bell within reach, and nurse presence when needed.

When is perineal care performed more frequently than with a routine bath?

For patients with incontinence, indwelling catheters, postpartum status, or recent perineal surgery.

How does effleurage during a back rub benefit patients?

Light, gliding strokes promote relaxation, lower heart and respiratory rates, and reduce anxiety and pain.

Why should nails be filed rather than clipped for patients with sensory loss?

Filing avoids accidental cuts that might go unnoticed and lead to infection.

How often should oral care be provided to unconscious patients?

Generally every 1–2 hours, using side-lying positioning and suction to prevent aspiration.

What oral rinse reduces ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) risk in high-risk patients?

0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) oral rinse.

How is denture-induced stomatitis prevented?

Remove and clean dentures regularly, take them out at night, and store them in water to keep tissues healthy.

What are two key steps in managing pediculosis capitis (head lice)?

Use a medicated shampoo followed by meticulous combing with a nit comb; wash linens in hot water and vacuum the environment.

Which patients must use an electric razor for shaving and why?

Those on anticoagulants or with low platelet counts to prevent accidental cuts and bleeding.

What is the correct direction to clean a patient’s eyes?

From the inner canthus toward the outer canthus with a clean section of cloth for each swipe.

What does the acronym RSVP remind contact-lens wearers to report?

Redness, Sensitivity, Vision problems, and Pain—signs of possible infection or injury.

Why should cotton-tipped applicators not be inserted deeply into the ear canal?

They can push cerumen deeper, injure the canal, or perforate the eardrum.

List three teaching points for new hearing-aid users.

Start wearing 15–20 min, gradually increase; keep the device dry and away from heat; clean the earmold daily.

State three environmental factors nurses adjust in a patient’s room to enhance comfort.

Temperature, noise level, and lighting.

What bed position promotes lung expansion and is often used for feeding?

Fowler’s position (45–60° head elevation).

Why is wrinkle-free linen important during bed-making?

Wrinkles increase friction and pressure, contributing to skin breakdown and discomfort.

Which evaluation technique verifies a patient’s understanding of hygiene teaching?

Teach-Back: asking the patient to explain or demonstrate key points just taught.

What question might a nurse ask to evaluate the effectiveness of a bath?

“Do you feel more comfortable now that you have had your bath?”

Give an example of revising a care plan after evaluation.

If skin under a patient’s breasts remains irritated, consult wound care or change bathing frequency/products to prevent breakdown.

How does critical thinking support safe hygiene care?

It enables nurses to anticipate risks, interpret assessment data accurately, and tailor interventions creatively and respectfully.

Why should touch practices be clarified with culturally diverse patients?

Some cultures view therapeutic touch as healing, while others find it intrusive or anxiety-producing.

What is Medical Device–Related Pressure Injury (MDRPI)?

Tissue damage caused by pressure or friction from devices such as oxygen tubing, casts, or restraints, requiring vigilant skin checks.

How does obesity complicate skin hygiene?

Skinfolds are difficult to clean, trapping moisture and increasing risk of pressure injuries and moisture-associated skin damage (MASD).

What assessment finding suggests impaired circulation in the feet?

Absent or weak dorsalis pedis/posterior tibial pulses, cool temperature, or delayed capillary refill.

Which nursing diagnosis fits a patient who cannot grip a washcloth because of rheumatoid arthritis?

Self-Care Deficit: Impaired Ability to Bathe related to deformed, painful joints.