Perineal Care

🔹 Supplies Needed

  • 3 linen protectors

  • 6 small towels

  • 1 large towel

  • basin

  • soap

  • gloves

  • dirty hamper

🪪 Beginning the Skill

  • Knock, and introduce yourself

  • Get permission

  • Provide privacy and wash hands

  • Bed safety checks

  • Gather supplies & prepare basin (check water temperature with wrist, confirm with resident)

  • Raise the bed to a comfortable working level

🧤 Before Touching Resident

  • Put on gloves

  • Have pt turn to their side to remove the current dirty linen

    • roll underneath the pt

  • Grab new linen and roll that under the soiled one

  • Have pt roll on their back

  • roll out the rest of the dirty linen and dispose

  • roll out the rest of the clean one making sure pt is comfortable

  • Place privacy towel horizontally on the perineal area

🚺 FRONT Perineal Care

  • Wet 1st towel and lather with soap

  • Exposing the patient to lift the towel

  • Wash perineal area (use a different fold for each wipe):

    • outer —> inner thigh (R)

    • outer —> inner thigh (L)

    • down the labia (R)- front to back

    • down the labia (L)- front to back

  • Wet 2nd towel (Just water)

  • Rinse area the same way (front to back, clean fold each stroke)

  • Pat dry with 3rd towel gently, softly, and smoothly

🍑 BACK/RECTAL Area

  • Roll the resident onto the side

  • Wet 4th towel (lather with soap)

  • Wipe the rectal area front to back, (WORKING AWAY FROM THE GENITALS) using clean fold for each stroke

    • Buttcheek (1)- top to bottoms

    • Buttcheek (2)- top to bottom

    • Down the crack

    • Down the crack again

  • Rinse with 5th towel (same motion) (just water)

  • Pat dry with 6th towel

🧹 Finishing Steps

  • pt is still on their side

  • remove and roll up dirty linen

  • roll up a new clean one under the soiled one

  • Roll patient back on their back, maintaining privacy

  • roll out new clean linen protector #3

  • dispose of the soiled

  • Pull the privacy towel down as well as the gown

  • clean supplies, take off gloves, wash hands

  • Final Safety checks (bedside table + Call light)

  • Open privacy and wash hands for a final time