Purpose

• A commode is a chair or wheelchair with an opening for a container. Persons unable to walk to the bathroom often use commodes.
• The commode allows a normal position for elimination. The commode arms and back provide support and help prevent falls.
• Some commodes are wheeled into bathrooms and placed over toilets. They are useful for persons who need support when sitting. The container is removed if the commode is used with the toilet. Wheels are locked after the commode is in position.

Equipment

Roll cursor over items to see labels. For the purposes of clearly depicting the equipment, a barrier is not shown in this photo. When providing care, a barrier should always be placed on the surface before placing the equipment.

Bariatric-size commode

Bath blanket

Robe

Toilet tissue

Transfer belt

Non-skid footwear

Delegation

• Follow delegation guidelines. Before helping the person to the commode, obtain this information from the nurse and care plan:
  • If the commode is used at the bedside or over the toilet
  • How much help the person needs
  • If you can leave the person or if you need to stay with the person
  • If the nurse needs to observe urine or feces
  • What observations to report and record
  • When to report observations
  • What patient or resident concerns to report at once

Preparation

• Observe quality-of-life measures.
• Review the information under Delegation and Safety and Comfort.
• Provide for privacy.
• Practice hand hygiene.
• Put on gloves.
• Collect the equipment.

Safety

• For commode use, transfer the person from the bed, chair, or wheelchair to the commode. Practice safe transfer procedures. Use the transfer belt and lock the wheels on the bed, wheelchair, and commode (if it has wheels). Remove the transfer belt after the transfer.
• Urine and feces may contain blood and microbes. Follow Standard Precautions and the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. Thoroughly clean and disinfect the commode container after use. Clean and disinfect the seat and other commode parts if necessary.

Comfort

• After the person transfers to the commode, cover his or her lap and legs with a bath blanket. This promotes warmth and privacy.

Follow-up Care

• Provide for comfort.
• Place the call light within reach.
• Raise or lower bed rails. Follow the care plan.
• Unscreen the person.
• Complete a safety check of the room.
• Follow agency policy for dirty linen.
• Practice hand hygiene.

Reporting/Recording

• Report and record your observations, including:
  • Color, amount, clarity (or cloudiness), and odor of urine
  • Particles or blood in the urine
  • Complaints of urinary urgency or burning, dysuria, or other problems
  • Color, amount, consistency, and odor of feces
  • Signs of blood in feces
  • Complaints of pain or discomfort with bowel movement.