The patient has been hospitalized for several weeks and is very depressed. She doesn't want to bathe or brush her teeth. What approach should the nurse take to best meet the needs of this pa-tient?
a. Collaborate for a psychiatric consultation.
b. Instruct the patient on the benefits of hy-giene.
c. Have family bring grooming products to the patient.
d. Encourage the patient to assist with per-sonal hygiene.
D
Encouraging the patient to participate in personal hygiene is the best approach. Bathing promotes relaxation with the feeling of being clean, in addition to enhancing one's appearance and sense of well-being. The patient also benefits from the physical activity, which helps to regain endurance, muscle strength, and range of motion lost during a prolonged illness. Because the patient is re-covering from a lengthy illness and experiencing justifiable feelings, it is premature to obtain a psychiatric consultation. Explaining reasons for bathing and teeth brushing does not address the immediate needs of the patient (i.e., being clean). Having the patient help with hygiene is more focused on the immediate needs of a depressed patient. Often the physiological effects of pro-longed hospitalization, such as depression, cause lack of attention to physical needs. Bringing grooming products to the patient can reinforce feelings of inadequacy and poor self-image, in-ducing the patient to think that her personal appearance is offensive.
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