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 fingernailsOkay, 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.

Then, help the client put their fingers into the basin and let them soak for about 5 to 10 minutes. After that, using a soapy washcloth, wash each hand thoroughly.

Be sure to dry each hand—including the areas between the fingers—carefully. After you’re done, empty and remove the basin.

Use the orangewood stick, which is a stick that has one pointed end and one that is flat and angled, to push the cuticles and clean underneath the nails.

Make sure to clean the stick with a towel after each fingernail. Okay, now the next step is to trim the client’s nails.

However, in some healthcare facilities, this is done solely by the nurses, so be sure to check your facility’s policy. Now, for the trimming, use nail clippers, not scissors.

Remember that nails have to be cut straight across and not too short. Also, make sure that you don’t injure the surrounding tissues.

Next, using an emery board, file the nails. Finally, apply lotion to hands to keep them moisturized.

Now, you can take your gloves off and help the client return to bed, if needed. Make sure to clean and return the equipment to the right place and discard one-use items.

Okay, now when assisting a client with hand care, there are a few things you should report to a nurse straight away. Let the nurse know if the client’s skin is dry, irritated, or bruised.

Also, report if they have any rash or blisters. Next, inform the nurse if you notice their nail beds have an unusual color such as blue, white, or yellow.

You should also report if their nails are very thick, loose, or broken. Also, report if their cuticles are damaged or bleeding, if there’s a hangnail, or if they report any pain or discomfort.

Document the date, the time, and any observations regarding the skin of their hands and their nails. All right, as a quick recap… Hand care includes cleaning the skin and caring for the fingernails.

Providing hand care is essential for a variety of reasons including prevention of infections or injuries caused by long and rough nails.

As a nursing assistant, you can be asked to assist a client with hand care. After the procedure, remember to report any unusual signs or symptoms to the