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Making an Occupied Bed

Written by Hollie Finders, RN
Hollie Finders is a registered nurse with years of experience working in the health care field. She has degrees in both biochemistry and nursing. After working with patients of all ages, Hollie now specializes in pediatric intensive care nursing. Hollie’s LinkedIn

Procedure

Equipment needed: gloves, bath blanket, set of linens, waterproof pad, disinfectant wipes, and soiled laundry bag.

  1. Perform hand hygiene.
  2. Explain the procedure to the patient and ask for his or her assistance in following directions.
  3. Place a clean set of linens within reach on a clean surface.
  4. Raise the bed to a comfortable working height. Lower the head of the bed.
  5. Raise the side rail on the side opposite of you. Lower the side rail on the side you are working.
  6. Put on gloves.
  7. Loosen the top linens at the foot of the bed. Then, cover the patient with a bath blanket and remove the top linens from under the bath blanket.
  8. Place soiled linen into the appropriate soiled laundry bag. Carry the soiled linen away from your uniform.
  9. Assist the patient in turning away from you, toward the raised side rail.
  10. Loosen the linens covering the mattress. Neatly roll these linens toward the patient and tuck them under the patient’s side as much as possible.
  11. If necessary, wipe down the mattress with a disinfectant wipe.
  12. Apply a clean set of linens and a waterproof pad to this half of the mattress. Roll the remaining linens towards the patient and tuck them underneath the roll of soiled linens. Smooth out any wrinkles.
  13. Before moving to the other side, raise the side rail. Lower the side rail on the working side.
  14. Assist the patient in turning towards the raised side rail. Tell the patient they will be rolling over a large bump.
  15. Loosen and neatly remove the soiled linens by folding the corners towards the center. Keep the soiled linens away from your body as you place them into the soiled laundry bag.
  16. If necessary, clean this half of the mattress with disinfectant wipes.
  17. Unroll the clean linen and waterproof pad from the center of the bed and fixate them into place. Smooth out any wrinkles.
  18. Assist the patient back into a supine position.
  19. Cover the patient with a new top sheet and blanket. Remove the bath blanket from underneath the new sheet. Place the bath blanket into the soiled laundry bag.
  20. At the head of the bed, fold the top sheet down to cover the edge of the blanket.
  21. At the foot of the bed, tuck the bottom edge of the top sheet and blanket under the foot of the mattress and make hospital corners on each side.
  22. Gently remove the pillow from underneath the patient’s head. Remove the soiled pillowcase. With clean gloves, apply a clean pillowcase and replace the pillow under the patient’s head.
  23. Assist the patient into a comfortable position, lower the bed, and return the side rails to their original position.
  24. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
  25. Document the procedure in the patient’s chart and report any changes in the patient’s condition to the nurse.

Important Information About Making an Occupied Bed

If a patient is bedridden or on bedrest, the bed linens will need to be changed while the patient is in the bed. For safety reasons, the nurse’s aid should avoid making an occupied bed if the patient is able to get out of bed. Bed linens should be changed according to the facility’s policy or anytime they are wet or soiled. Linens that are moist or soiled accelerate the development of skin issues and increase the risk for developing yeast infections [1].

References

1. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003976.htm

More Resources

Moving the Resident to the Side of the Bed

Residents are usually kept in the center of the bed for safety reasons. However, moving a resident to the side of the bed is an important step to take before turning a resident onto his or her side. Performing this action allows the resident to end up side lying in the center of the bed and not smashed up against the side rail.

Perineal Care of the Male Resident

Perineal care should be performed during a bath, after using the bedpan, and/or after incontinence. Special care should be used when performing perineal care on an uncircumcised male. Failure to retract and wash the area under the foreskin can result in infection. Failure to return the foreskin to its normal position can result in paraphimosis.

Axillary Temperature with Electronic Thermometer

Compared to other temperature measurement methods, the axillary measurement is considered the least reliable. An axillary temperature measurement typically reads 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit lower than an oral temperature reading [1]. For this reason, it is recommended to use this method only when other methods are contraindicated or when taking an axillary temperature is the safest method for the patient.

Assisting the Resident to Transfer from the Bed to a Chair or Wheelchair

It is important to remember on which side to place the chair when assisting a patient in transferring. Putting the chair on the resident’s unaffected side allows the resident to lead with his or her strong extremity. This eases the procedure for the resident and reduces the risk of falling.

Dressing and Undressing a Patient

Patients who have suffered a stroke or have weakness or injury to one side of their body may struggle with dressing and undressing. In order to help these patients regain their strength and independence, it is important that the nurse’s aide only assist them as needed. The nurse’s aide may need to teach patients how to dress and undress safely with their limitations.

Perineal Care of the Female Resident

Perineal care should be performed during a bath, after using the bedpan, and/or after incontinence. Proper technique is important for maintaining hygiene, preventing infection, and avoiding skin breakdown. Because of the close proximity between a woman’s urethra, vagina, and anus, it is essential to only wipe in a front to back motion. Wiping in the opposite direction is associated with a greater risk for developing a urinary tract infection.

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