Chapter 24 Dressing and Undressing

In long-term care

• patient gowns are worn

• sleepwear is worn during the day

• garments are changed every other day

• street clothes are worn during the day

For spilled coffee on a shirt, you should

• give the person a sweater to cover the spill

• clean the shirt with a damp towel

• change the shirt at bedtime

• change the shirt right away

A person has weakness on the right side. Garments are removed

• from the affected (weak) side first

• from the unaffected (strong) side first

• from either side first

• in the same way it was removed

A person has limited range of motion in the left shoulder. Apply the person's shirt

• to the affected side first

• to the unaffected side first

• to either side first

• in the same way it was removed

When dressing

• do as much for the person as possible

• choose clothing for the person

• support the arm or leg

• move the person quickly

When dressing a person with dementia

• choose clothing with buttons

• give more than 1 direction at a time

• offer many clothing options

• follow the person's routine

An IV therapy gown

• opens at the sleeves

• does not have sleeves

• must be changed by the nurse

• provides less privacy than a standard gown

When changing the gown on a person with an IV

• hold the IV bag below the IV site

• stop the IV pump to change the gown

• have the nurse check the flow rate afterward

• disconnect the IV to change the gown