Dressing and Undressing a Patient

Written by Hollie Finders, RN
Hollie Finders is a registered nurse with years of experience working in the health care field. She has degrees in both biochemistry and nursing. After working with patients of all ages, Hollie now specializes in pediatric intensive care nursing. Hollie’s LinkedIn

Procedure for Dressing and Undressing a Patient

Equipment needed: patient’s clothing.

Perform hand hygiene.
Have the patient select an outfit to wear and gather those clothing items. Ensure those clothing items are clean and appropriate for the weather.
Explain the procedure to the patient and provide privacy.
Remove the patient’s shirt by undressing the stronger arm first. Then, gently slide the shirt off the patient’s weaker arm.
To dress the patient, perform steps in the opposite order. Assist the patient in dressing the weaker arm first and then proceed to the stronger side.
Continue undressing and dressing the patient in the same fashion for all garments worn.
If the patient is standing, have him or her sit down. Assist him or her in putting on non-skid footwear. Tie laces if shoes are worn.
Assist the patient in fastening any zippers and buttons and align clothing into its proper position.
Place the patient’s personal clothing in a safe place or in a laundry hamper if provided. Place facility gowns into a soiled laundry bag.
Perform hand hygiene.
Document the procedure in the patient’s chart and report any changes in the patient’s condition to the nurse.

Important Information About Dressing and Undressing

Patients who have suffered a stroke or have weakness or injury to one side of their body may struggle with dressing and undressing. In order to help these patients regain their strength and independence, it is important that the nurse’s aide only assist them as needed. The nurse’s aide may need to teach patients how to dress and undress safely with their limitations.

When assisting a patient in dressing and undressing, be sure to move the patient’s limbs gently and in a natural motion. Avoid overextending the patient’s joints, as doing so may result in injury. Limit the use of the patient’s weak extremity by dressing the affected side first and undressing the affected side last.

More Resources

Assisting the Resident to Sit on the Side of the Bed

Having the resident sit on the side of the bed is otherwise referred to as dangling. When a resident quickly changes position, especially from lying to sitting or standing, there can be a rapid drop in the resident’s blood pressure. This drop in blood pressure may cause dizziness or lightheadedness.

Moving the Resident from a Bed to a Stretcher or Gurney

Moving a patient from a bed to a stretcher can pose huge safety risks to both the patient and to the health care workers completing the transfer. Always use the appropriate amount of people to complete a transfer, which may vary according to the patient’s weight and/or the facility’s policy. In some cases, a mechanical lift may be needed.

Removing Personal Protective Equipment

It is important to follow the correct procedure while removing personal protective equipment to avoid contaminating your skin or clothing. The most common source of contamination in this process stems from improper removal of gloves. Gloves are often the most soiled piece of equipment. To avoid contaminating your skin or the other equipment worn, gloves should always be removed first. Then remove the goggles, gown, and mask, in that order.

Collecting a Stool Specimen

Stool specimens are collected to test for a variety of disorders from colon cancer to parasites. While it is not the most pleasant job, it is important that the collection is done correctly for accurate results.

Perineal Care of the Male Resident

Perineal care should be performed during a bath, after using the bedpan, and/or after incontinence. Special care should be used when performing perineal care on an uncircumcised male. Failure to retract and wash the area under the foreskin can result in infection. Failure to return the foreskin to its normal position can result in paraphimosis.

Prone Position

Prone position is not used as commonly as other patient positions. This position allows for full extension of the hips and the knees and gives many bony prominences a break from continuous pressure. However, placing patients in prone position does not come without the risks of pressure ulcers.