Wash and wean: bathing patients undergoing weaning trials during prolonged mechanical ventilation

Bathing is a fundamental nursing care activity performed for or with the self-assistance of critically ill patients. Few studies address caregiver or patient-family perspectives about bathing activity during weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV).

To describe practices and beliefs about bathing patients during weaning from PMV.

Secondary analysis of qualitative data (observational field notes, interviews, and clinical record review) from a larger ethnographic study involving 30 patients weaning from PMV and the clinicians who cared for them using basic qualitative description.

Bathing, hygiene, and personal care were highly valued and equated with "good" nursing care by families and nurses. Nurses and respiratory therapists reported "working around" bath time and promoted conducting weaning trials before or after bathing. Patients were nevertheless bathed during weaning trials despite clinicians' expressed concerns for energy conservation. Clinicians recognized individual patient response to bathing during PMV weaning trials.

Bathing is a central care activity for patients on PMV and a component of daily work processes in the intensive care unit. Bathing requires assessment of patient condition and activity tolerance and nurse-respiratory therapist negotiation and accommodation with respect to the initiation or continuation of PMV weaning trials during bathing. Further study is needed to validate the impact (or lack of impact) of various timing strategies for bathing patients who are on PMV.