BED MAKING (UNOCCUPIED)
HOSPITAL BEDS
The frame of the hospital bed is divided into three sections.
This permits the head and the foot to be elevated separately.
Most of the hospital beds have electric motors to operate the
movable joints.
Hospital Beds are usually 66 cm (26 in.) high and 0.9 cm (3ft)
wide, narrower than the usual bed so that the nurse can reach the client from either
side of the bed without undue stretching.
The length is usually 1.9 m (6.5 ft). Some beds can be extended in length to
accommodate very tall clients.
MATTRESS
Mattress are usually covered with a water repellent material that
resists soiling and can be cleaned easily. Most mattresses have handles
on the sides called lungs by which the mattress can be moved.
SIDE RAILS
Side rails or safety sides are used on both hospital beds and
stretchers. They are of various shapes and sizes and are usually
made of metal. A bed can have two full length side rails or four
half-or-quarter length side rails. When side rails are being used, it is
important that the nurse never leave the bedside while the rail is
lowered. Some side rails have two positions: up and down . others
have three: high, intermediate, and low.
INTRAVENOUS RODS
Intravenous rods (poles, stands, standards) , usually made of metal,
support IV infusion containers while fluid is being administered to a
client.
MAKING BEDS
Nurses need to be able to prepare hospital beds in different ways for specific
purposes. In most instances, beds are made after the client receives certain care and
when beds are unoccupied. At times, however, nurses need to make an occupied bed
or prepare a bed for a client who is having a surgery (an anesthetic, postoperative, or
surgical bed). Regardless of what type of bed equipment is available, whether the
bed is occupied or unoccupied, or the purpose for which the bed is being prepared ,
certain practice guidelines pertain to all bed making.
Wash hands thoroughly after handling a client's bed linen. Linens and
equipment that have been soiled with secretions and excretions
harbor microorganisms that can be transmitted to others.
Hold soiled linen away from uniform
Linen for one client is never placed on another client's bed
Place soiled linen directly on a portable linen hamper or tucked into
pillow case.
Do not shake soiled linen in the air because shaking can disseminate
secretions and excretions and the microorganisms they contain.
When stripping and making bed, conserve time and energy by
stripping and making up one side as much as possible before working
to the other side.
To avoid unnecessary trips to the linen supply area, gather all linen
before starting to a strip a bed.
UNOCCUPIED BED
An unoccupied bed can be either closed or open. Generally the top covers of an open
bed are folded back(thus the term open bed) to make it easier for the client to get in .
Open and closed bed are made the same way except that the top sheet , blanket, and
bedspread of a closed bed are drawn up to the top of bed and under the pillows.
PURPOSE
To be ready for the next occupant
Prepare the bed for the client's return
To provide a clean environment
To promote client comfort
To promote cleanliness
EQUIPMENTS/MATERIALS
Bottom Sheet Used to cover the bed
after mattress cover
Top Sheet Used to cover the patient,
provide warmth, made of
thick cotton and thermal
material
Draw Sheet A draw sheet, also known
as a lift sheet, is a sheet
used in the medical
industry to lift immobile
patients from their beds.
These sheets usually come
in two parts: a
normal cotton sheet over
one made of rubber. A
draw sheet, unnoticeable
by a prone patient,
supports the body from
the upper back to mid
thigh during lifting.
Pillow Case a removable sacklike
covering, usually of
cotton, drawn over
a pillow.
Pillows In healthcare, pillows are
used both for comfort and
positioning, and to
support the head as well
as other body parts
Gloves Gloves create a barrier
between germs and your
hands. Wearing gloves in
the hospital helps prevent
the spread of germs.
Waterproof pad (Rubber Used to protect bottom
Sheet) sheet from soiling due to
patient secretions and
prevent the patients from
getting bedsore.
ASSESSMENT
1. Check the bed linens for any items belonging to
the client
PLANNING
2. Wash hands. Rationale: To avoid cross contamination/spread of microorganisms.
3. Place a chair at the side of the bed. Rationale: This prevents contamination via
soiled linen.
IMPLEMENTATION
STRIPPING
4. Detach the call bell or any drainage tubes from the bed linen.
5. Loosen beddings all around the bed starting at the non working area to the
working area Rationale: Moving around the bed systematically prevents stretching
and possible muscle strain.
6. Remove pillow case and place it at the back rest
of the chair, in case there is no hamper available.
7. Remove soiled linens one at a time and discard to hamper
8. Remove the water proof pad and discard it if soiled.
9. Fold and carry linen away from the uniform
Rationale: These actions are essential to prevent the transmission of microorganisms
to the nurse and others.
10. Observe proper body mechanics throughout the procedure.
11. Grasp the mattress securely using lugs if present, and moves the mattress up to
the head of the bed if it will not be occupied to provide aeration.
12. Perform after care of materials.
13. Wash hands
Folding reusable linens when removing them from bed and rolling soiled linens inside
the bottom sheet
MAKING THE BED
14. Assemble all the necessary articles for bed making in
order of use and place them conveniently near the bed ready
for use. Rationale: saves time and makes procedure more
organized
15. Place the bottom hem of the bottom sheet even with the
foot part of the mattress. Foot part of the bottom sheet should
have the wide hem.
16. Unfold half of the sheet lengthwise fanfold the other half
towards the center of the bed. Tuck the sheet under the head
part of the mattress and miter the corner. Rationale: The top of
the sheet needs to be well tucked under to remain securely in
place, especially when the head of the bed is elevated.
*Fan folding: specifically folding the edge of the sheet used in the bed 6-8inches
outward.
MITERING THE CORNER OF THE BED
A mitered corner is a special folding technique that secures the linen under the
mattress. PURPOSE is to hold linen firmly in place on beds and stretchers
17. Tuck in the bed cover (sheets, blanket) firmly under the mattress at the bottom
or top of the bed.
18. Lift the cover at the tip of the corner of the linen so that it forms a triangle with
the side edge of the bed, and the edge of the bed cover is parallel to the end of the
bed.
19. Tuck the part of the cover that hangs below the mattress, under the mattress
while holding the lifted portion of the cover/linen
20. Bring the lifted portion of the cover down toward the floor while the other hand
holds the fold pf the cover against the side of the mattress.
21 Remove the hand, and tuck the remainder of the cover under the mattress if
appropriate
Go to the other side of the bed and unfold the linens. Tuck the head part of the
bottom sheet and miter the corners Note: Completing one entire side of bed at a
time saves time and energy
24. Pull the rubber sheet and draw sheet. Be sure to avoid wrinkles. Tuck all three
linens at the side of the bed.
25. Pull the top sheet and tuck the foot part. Top sheet have equal lengths hanging
both sides of the bed. Miter the corners.
25. Cover the pillow with pillow case by grasping the close end of the pillow case at
the center with one hand. Then gather up the sides of the pillowcase and place them
over the hand grasping the pillow .
Using the free hand, pull the pillowcase over the pillow. Place it on the bed with the
open end away from the entrance door. Rationale: A smoothly fitting pillowcase is
more comfortable than a wrinkled one. We place the pillow with the open end away
from the door so that it is still pleasing to the eye.
26. Perform aftercare of materials
27. Wash hands
EVALUATION
28. Linens did not come in contact with the floor throughout the procedure
29. The bed has a neat and tailored appearance
30. Corners were neatly mitered
31. Correct body mechanics was observed throughout the procedure.
DOCUMENTATION
32. Document linen change on the linen logbook indicating date and time.
