Okuzeka
Nursing vocabulary · Basic Care and Mobility

Bed bath

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˈbɛd bæθ/nounCore term

In nursing, bed bath means: A wash given to a patient who cannot get out of bed, using a bowl of warm water, soap, towels and cloths, while keeping them covered and warm.

In Turkish: yatak banyosu, yatakta banyo

How it is used

Usually done in the morning by nurses or healthcare assistants, often in pairs. It is also a chance to check the skin, pressure areas and cannula sites and to talk with the patient. People say 'give' or 'do' a bed bath; a patient may 'need a full wash'.

Example sentences

  1. Can you help me give Mrs Arslan a bed bath before the ward round?

  2. During the bed bath I noticed some redness on his heels.

Common collocations

  • give a bed bath
  • do a bed bath
  • help with a bed bath
  • full bed bath
  • personal careHelp with the everyday tasks of looking after the body, such as washing, dressing, using the toilet, mouth care and shaving.
  • pressure ulcerDamage to the skin and the tissue under it caused by long pressure, usually over bony areas such as the heels, hips or the base of the spine.
  • repositionTo change the position of a patient in bed or in a chair, to relieve pressure on the skin, make them comfortable or help their breathing.
  • bedpanA flat container that a patient who cannot get out of bed sits on to pass urine or open their bowels.

More terms: Basic Care and Mobility

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.