All skills
Personal Care

Perineal Care

The single most-likely-to-fail critical step on this list. Wipe front-to-back, change the cloth with each wipe, and never reuse a wipe on a cleaner area.

5-10 minutes•11 steps•5 critical
Front-to-back, every single time. No exceptions.

Why this matters

Front-to-back, every single time. No exceptions.

Quick tips

  • Tell the patient what you're about to do BEFORE you do it
  • Firm but gentle — never rough, never hesitant
  • A new washcloth for each wipe, every time

Common mistakes

  • Wiping back-to-front (this is THE fail-most-tested rule)
  • Reusing the same cloth for multiple wipes
  • Not maintaining perineal-front-to-back hygiene for the duration of care
  • Treating the patient's body indifferently — warmth and respect matter