137
SKILL 7-2
Assisting the patient with oral care
(continued)
Comments
Excellent
Satisfactory
Needs practice
Copyright © 2014 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Checklists for Clinical Nursing Skills by Louise Sparkes, Jennifer Bassett and Elisabeth Jacob.
12. Assist the patient to floss their teeth, if appropriate:
(a) Remove approximately 15 cm of dental floss from the
container or use a plastic floss holder. Wrap the floss
around your index fingers, keeping about 3–5 cm of
floss taut between your fingers.
(b) Insert the floss gently between the patient’s teeth,
moving it back and forth downwards to the gums.
(c) Move the floss up and down, first on one side of a
tooth and then on the other side, until the surfaces of
all teeth are clean. Repeat in the spaces between all
teeth.
(d) Instruct the patient to rinse their mouth well with
water after flossing.
13. Offer mouthwash if the patient prefers.
14. Offer lip balm or petroleum jelly.
15. Assist the patient to a comfortable position.
16. Remove used PPE/equipment and dispose of them in the
appropriate receptacle.
17. Perform hand hygiene.
18. Replace clean equipment in the appropriate storage area.
19. Document in the patient’s chart and report any abnormal
results to a senior nurse, medical officer or endorsed
nurse practitioner immediately.
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