Abstract

FONSECA, Esmeralda Faria; PENAFORTE, Maria Helena de Oliveira  and  MARTINS, Maria Manuela Ferreira Pereira da Silva. Hygiene care - bath: meanings and perspectives of nurses. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2015, vol.serIV, n.5, pp.37-45. ISSN 0874-0283.  https://doi.org/10.12707/RIV14066.

Background: As direct care to the person, the bath, in its performance or supervision, is emphasised as a space/time of interaction and knowledge between the nurse and the person. However, it is sometimes regarded as merely the task of keeping a person clean. Objectives: To understand the meaning assigned by nurses to hygiene care - bath; identify Nursing foci, related to the provision of Nursing care to the person as a whole, considered during hygiene care - bath; and describe the care provided during the bath. Methodology: Qualitative. A descriptive-exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted with 18 participants using interviews and observation. Results: The results indicate that the provision of health care - bath is a type of nursing care essential to body cleanliness and comfort, and offers an opportunity for communication, presence and relationship with the person. Different foci may be taken into account to guide the provision of care with a view to meeting the person's needs. Conclusion: A type of care that promotes a space directed to the person and that must be provided by the nurse, who should encourage the person to have an active role in the care plan.

Keywords : hygiene; nursing care.

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