I just started my second week of Clinicals in my Foundations class. We just had our first week of bedbaths. We were instructed by the institution to use wipes and not a basin with soap and water. Then we were told students were using the wipes innappropriatly. We were supposed to use one package only. "One for the head and chest, one each for arm and axilla, one each for each leg, one for peri, one for back and one for bottom."  She also commented in response to someone needing more for incontinence that if they used them correctly there wouldn't be a problem. She said you scoop up and clean up most of it with the throwaway chuck so there wont be left on the patients skin. Since it was our first bed bath- some students had taken a long time to complete their bedbaths- not having previous experience with patient care. They had reheated the wipes with hot water- which we were told was also innappropriate. "You defeat the whole purpose of the wipes if you wash them! Do NOT run them in water. Do NOT dry the patient after!"

            I have been a CNA for a year and a half and we have wipes on my unit but we always use the basin with washcloths when possible. I always thought of the wipes as being the "lazy" way to do things.  I don't feel like using one package of wipes is really going to clean the patient as well or feels as good as warm washcloths... and I don't think my students are learning good ADL stills. What do you think? Am I wrong here? Are wipes more hygenic because you throw them away instead of reusing them? Am I just stuck in my own ways- I realize I need to show respect for the institution I am working in by following their instructions... but I would like to know what others think.