Grooming: Hand care

Hand care involves cleaning and caring for the hands and fingernails. It is an essential part of personal care and hygiene. Some clients, like those in advanced age, need help with this task. As a nursing assistant, you may be asked to assist these clients.

Regular hand care contributes to the client’s overall health, generates a feeling of comfort, and promotes their ability to participate more fully in their daily activities. At the same time, hand care can prevent problems from occurring.

Cracked, dry skin can be a portal of entry for microbes, which can lead to infections. A client with long or rough fingernails may harm themselves, especially if their level of alertness is decreased due to problems such as dementia. As you care for the client’s hands, you can closely observe the condition of the skin and fingernails

Okay, now, let’s go over some important terms. The nails grow from the nail root, which is under the skin. The area where it comes out is covered by a semicircular waxy layer called the cuticle. There are also nail folds along each side of the nail, and together with the cuticle, they prevent entry to bacteria and other pathogens.

Torn and partially disconnected pieces of the cuticle or the nail folds are known as hangnails, and they can result from various causes such as dry skin, cold temperatures, nail biting, or even a bad manicure.

Hangnails can be irritating and painful, especially when they rub on clothing. They can also bleed and get infected or inflamed, so it’s important to provide proper hand care to prevent hangnails from occurring. In some healthcare facilities, hand care is performed solely by the nurses.

Okay, so, when assisting with hand care, first gather the supplies you’ll need, including gloves, a wash basin, soap, paper towels, towels, washcloths, an orangewood stick, nail clippers (if you’re allowed to clip the client’s nails), an emery board, and hand lotion. If the client has brought their own supplies, you can use those.

A perfect time to care for the client’s nails is during or after the client's bath because the nails have softened and are more flexible to clean and trim. Otherwise, you have to start by soaking the client’s hands in water. Cover the over-bed table with paper towels, and place the basin on top. Fill the wash basin with warm water and some soap. Make sure the temperature is comfortable, and this should be also checked by the client by having them place their fingers in the water.

Next, help transfer the client to a bedside chair and adjust the table in front of them. If the client can’t get out of bed, raise the head of the bed to a height you can work with that’s also comfortable for the client.