Hygiene & Self-Care Needs
Introduction
Self-care and hygiene needs are basic but very important
As they are basic, they can easily be taken for granted
They adequate and independent performance of these needs enhances a person’s
health statis and emotional wellbeing
Nurses play a vital role in helping patients learn and relearn self-care techniques
*Apply Orem’s self-care deficit theory
Bathing and hygiene
Hygiene refers to the cleanliness of the body and the environment. It is unique to each
individual as personal hygiene is determined by individual values and practices
Hygiene promotes cleanliness, provides for comfort and relaxation and it improves skin
health and self-image
Hygiene and grooming are influenced by environmental and cultural factors and includes
bathing, skin care, perineal care, foot and nail care, mouth and oral care and ear, nose
and eye care
Regular bathing removes oils, perspiration and bacteria from the skin’s surface
Bathing increases circulation and helps to maintain muscle tone and joint mobility
Bathing promotes relaxation and comfort and gives a person a sense of wellbeing
Feeding
The ability to feed oneself may be the most important self-care skill (independence)
Making decisions on food choices and being able to feed oneself can be immensely
gratifying and enhances self-concept
Feeding involves the following activities
The desire to make food choices and to eat
Having the energy to coordinate muscles to move food from the plate to the mouth
The ability to chew and swallow safely
Toileting
Normal toileting includes to urge to void and to defaecate, moving to the
toilet/commode/bed pan, rearranging clothing, voiding/defaecating and effectively
cleaning the perineal and rectal areas
The above actions are usually done independently but may require assistance in times of
illness/injury/hospitalisation
The risk of falls due to altered mental statis, cognitive impairment, altered elimination or
the inability to rise without assistance
Dressing and grooming
Dressing oneself includes:
Getting clothing from the cupboards/drawers
Putting the clothes on
Managing fasteners/buttons/zips
Putting on socks/shoes and securing shoes
Can also include bushing/combing hair
The wearing of make-up/shaving/waxing is also included depending on personal
preference and culture
The care and maintenance of a beard/moustache could also be included in certain cases
Introduction
Self-care and hygiene needs are basic but very important
As they are basic, they can easily be taken for granted
They adequate and independent performance of these needs enhances a person’s
health statis and emotional wellbeing
Nurses play a vital role in helping patients learn and relearn self-care techniques
*Apply Orem’s self-care deficit theory
Bathing and hygiene
Hygiene refers to the cleanliness of the body and the environment. It is unique to each
individual as personal hygiene is determined by individual values and practices
Hygiene promotes cleanliness, provides for comfort and relaxation and it improves skin
health and self-image
Hygiene and grooming are influenced by environmental and cultural factors and includes
bathing, skin care, perineal care, foot and nail care, mouth and oral care and ear, nose
and eye care
Regular bathing removes oils, perspiration and bacteria from the skin’s surface
Bathing increases circulation and helps to maintain muscle tone and joint mobility
Bathing promotes relaxation and comfort and gives a person a sense of wellbeing
Feeding
The ability to feed oneself may be the most important self-care skill (independence)
Making decisions on food choices and being able to feed oneself can be immensely
gratifying and enhances self-concept
Feeding involves the following activities
The desire to make food choices and to eat
Having the energy to coordinate muscles to move food from the plate to the mouth
The ability to chew and swallow safely
Toileting
Normal toileting includes to urge to void and to defaecate, moving to the
toilet/commode/bed pan, rearranging clothing, voiding/defaecating and effectively
cleaning the perineal and rectal areas
The above actions are usually done independently but may require assistance in times of
illness/injury/hospitalisation
The risk of falls due to altered mental statis, cognitive impairment, altered elimination or
the inability to rise without assistance
Dressing and grooming
Dressing oneself includes:
Getting clothing from the cupboards/drawers
Putting the clothes on
Managing fasteners/buttons/zips
Putting on socks/shoes and securing shoes
Can also include bushing/combing hair
The wearing of make-up/shaving/waxing is also included depending on personal
preference and culture
The care and maintenance of a beard/moustache could also be included in certain cases
