CNA Skill: Partial Bed Bath | Step-by-Step Guide for the Florida Exam

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A partial bed bath involves washing the resident's face, neck, one hand and arm, chest, abdomen, and back while they remain in bed, finishing with a back rub using warmed lotion. There is no perineal washing in this skill. A mannequin plays the resident, and you dress it in a clean hospital-style gown at the end. The evaluator watches for proper technique, water temperature, and maintaining the resident's dignity.

Equipment and Supplies Needed

• Several washcloths (a soap-free one for the face, then fresh cloths to wash and rinse each region; the test site stocks the supplies)
• Towels (one to keep the resident covered, one to keep the bed dry, and a medium one for drying)
• Clean hospital-style gown
• Soap
• Lotion
• 2 basins
• Gloves
• Bath blanket

Step-by-Step Procedure

Below are the criteria checklist checkpoints for Partial Bed Bath on the Florida CNA clinical skills exam, the same checkpoints the evaluators score. Checkpoints marked (IC) are the universal indirect care checkpoints, which are scored on every skill.

1. Greet resident, address by name and introduce self? (IC)
2. Provide explanations to resident about care before beginning and during care? (IC)
3. Use water of safe temperature for washing and rinsing?
4. Cleanse eyes by using soap-free washcloth wiping eye from the inside corner to the outside corner, changing to clean area of washcloth before returning to inner corner and before cleansing the other eye?
5. Wash resident's face using a soap-free wet washcloth, unless ascertains resident's preference to use soap before washing face?
6. Leave face dry after washing?
7. Contain corners of washcloth while washing and rinsing (e.g., forming mitt)?
8. Protect bed linen from becoming wet during washing and rinsing of body (non-face)?
9. Wash resident's body (non-face) using a wet washcloth with small amount of soap?
10. Use clean, soap-free, wet washcloth to remove soap from resident's skin?
11. Wash and rinse resident's neck, hand, arm, chest, and abdomen?
12. Dry neck, hand, arm, chest, and abdomen?
13. Support arm if raised off bed to wash, rinse, and dry the back side of arm?
14. Assist resident to turn onto side before cleansing back?
15. Wash, rinse, and dry back?
16. Replace basin of water during task if it becomes cold or soapy?
17. Warm lotion before applying to resident's back (e.g., warming in hands, placing bottle in warm water)?
18. Use lotion to provide back rub with long gliding and circular motions?
19. Place clean hospital gown on resident and secure gown in back?
20. Complete skill having rinsed, dried and stored basin, placing soiled linens in hamper, disposing of trash, and leaving overbed table dry?
21. Keep resident positioned a safe distance from the edge of the bed at all times?
22. Ask resident about preferences during care? (IC)
23. Use Standard Precautions and infection control measures when providing care? (IC)
24. Ask resident about comfort or needs during care or before care completed? (IC)
25. Promote resident's rights during care? (IC)
26. Promote resident's safety during care? (IC)

Indirect care is scored throughout this skill as well; the universal (IC) checkpoints at the end of the list appear on every skill.

Common Mistakes on the Prometric Test

Based on our experience preparing thousands of students for Florida's CNA state exam, here are the most common mistakes candidates make on this skill:

• Using soap on the face, Soap should not be used on the face, only warm water. This is a specific checkpoint.
• Wrong eye-wiping direction: Always wipe from inner corner to outer corner of the eye, using a fresh washcloth area for each eye.
• Exposing the resident: Only uncover the area being washed. Keep the rest of the body covered for warmth and dignity.
• Skipping the back wash and back rub: Turning the resident onto their side, washing, rinsing, and drying the back, then giving a back rub with warmed lotion are the defining checkpoints of this skill.

Test Day Tips for Partial Bed Bath

• Memorize the areas: face (no soap), neck, one hand and arm, chest, abdomen, then the back and back rub; there is no perineal washing in this skill.
• Keep checking that the water is warm: change it if it cools down.
• Use the bath blanket to cover areas you're not washing.
• If you are working from a single basin, keep the water clean: lather each washcloth over the barrier next to the basin, not in it, and once a cloth has touched the skin set it aside instead of returning it to the water.
• Pat dry instead of rubbing, and rotate to a dry area of the towel as you move between regions.
• Raise the bed to about the height of your pelvis while you work; it protects your back and is the body mechanics evaluators expect. Lower it again when you finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't you use soap on the face during a bed bath?

Soap can irritate the sensitive skin around the eyes and face. The face is washed with warm water only. Additionally, the eyes are cleaned from the inner corner outward to prevent spreading any discharge.

Master This Skill with Video Demonstrations

Reading the steps is a great start, but watching the skill performed correctly makes a huge difference on test day. Our online CNA course includes:

• HD video demonstration of Partial Bed Bath performed exactly as Prometric expects
• Detailed narration explaining each checkpoint the evaluator looks for
• Practice scenarios and tips from experienced CNA instructors
• All 22 clinical skills plus written exam preparation

Start with a free course preview. See the quality of our video instruction before you commit.

All 22 CNA Clinical Skills

See the full CNA clinical skills guide, or jump to any skill: Handwashing · Mouth Care (Brushing Teeth) · Hand and Nail Care · Denture Care · Feeding a Resident · Taking a Pulse · Measuring Respirations · Changing an Occupied Bed · Dressing with One-Sided Weakness · Female Catheter Care · Bedpan Assistance · Emptying Urinary Drainage Bag · Female Perineal Care · Range of Motion (Lower Body) · Range of Motion (Elbow and Wrist) · Range of Motion (Shoulder) · Change of Position · Wheelchair Transfer · Foot Care · Ambulation with Gait Belt · Indirect Care.