How often should the nurse aide perform oral care on an unconscious client?

Performing oral care on an unconscious client is essential to maintain oral health and prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia and oral infections. The recommended practice is to conduct oral care every two hours. This frequency helps to keep the mouth moist, remove debris, and promote comfort for the client, who is unable to do so themselves due to their condition.

Oral care every two hours is a crucial part of patient care, particularly for clients who are unable to maintain their own oral hygiene. It is frequent enough to reduce the risk of developing complications associated with poor oral hygiene, such as bacterial growth and oral thrush, while also being manageable for caregiver workload. Thus, the practice aligns with the established protocols for care of unconscious patients to ensure their overall well-being.