The CNA skill of mouth care of a comatose patient may be tested on your state’s CNA exam. Dealing with comatose patients can be part of a CNAs daily responsibilities. Properly handling comatose patients is critical, especially when it comes to mouth care. .
To learn all the necessary steps for this skill, please watch this CNA Skills Mouth Care of Comatose Patient for a complete demonstration of the skill.
CNA Skill – Mouth Care of a Comatose CNA Patient
The process of mouth care on a comatose CNA patient for a CNA skills exam is as follows:
- Perform the standard CNA beginning tasks. Knock before entering the patient’s room, greet the patient by name, introduce yourself, explain the task you are about to perform, close the privacy curtain, and wash your hands. .
- Raise the bed to a comfortable working height.
- It is very important to turn the patient on their side. This ensures that water does not drip back into their throat.
- Taking a swab into a water cup and gently get the excess water out so that isn’t too wet.
- Take the swab to the upper mouth first and then move to the bottom.
- Use a towel and wipe the patient’s mouth.
- Gently roll the patient off their side onto their back.
- Lower the bad back down.
- Perform your standard completion tasks – wash your hands, ensure the patient has a clean environment, ask if they are comfortable, give them their call light and close their privacy curtain.
* Please be sure to consult the testing materials provided by the skills test provider in your state to ensure that these steps for CNA Skill Mouth Care of a Comatose CNA Patient are in compliance. The procedure in different states and from different test providers can vary slightly and greatly affect your score.
