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.

Perform hand hygiene.
Explain the procedure to the patient and ask for his or her assistance in following directions.
Place a clean set of linens within reach on a clean surface.
Raise the bed to a comfortable working height. Lower the head of the bed.
Raise the side rail on the side opposite of you. Lower the side rail on the side you are working.
Put on gloves.
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.
Place soiled linen into the appropriate soiled laundry bag. Carry the soiled linen away from your uniform.
Assist the patient in turning away from you, toward the raised side rail.
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.
If necessary, wipe down the mattress with a disinfectant wipe.
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.
Before moving to the other side, raise the side rail. Lower the side rail on the working side.
Assist the patient in turning towards the raised side rail. Tell the patient they will be rolling over a large bump.
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.
If necessary, clean this half of the mattress with disinfectant wipes.
Unroll the clean linen and waterproof pad from the center of the bed and fixate them into place. Smooth out any wrinkles.
Assist the patient back into a supine position.
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.
At the head of the bed, fold the top sheet down to cover the edge of the blanket.
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.
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.
Assist the patient into a comfortable position, lower the bed, and return the side rails to their original position.
Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
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

Putting on Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is worn to protect the mouth, nose, eyes, clothing, and skin from unwanted pathogens. In the health care setting, a patient’s condition often prompts the use of personal protective equipment; however, a health care worker is able to wear personal protective equipment whenever he or she deems it is necessary (e.g., during procedures with the potential for excessive contact with bodily fluids).

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.

Moving the Resident from a Bed to a Stretcher or Gurney

Moving a patient from a bed to a stretcher can pose huge safety risks to both the patient and to the health care workers completing the transfer. Always use the appropriate amount of people to complete a transfer, which may vary according to the patient’s weight and/or the facility’s policy. In some cases, a mechanical lift may be needed.

Handwashing for CNAs

Handwashing is considered the single most important practice to prevent the spread of infection. Even when hands look clean, they could potentially be crawling with dangerous microorganisms and pathogens. Using soap and friction during handwashing helps loosen the oils on the skin, allowing dirt and pathogens to be rinsed away.

Sim’s Position

The position a patient is placed in is often ordered by the physician, or recommended by a speech, occupational, or physical therapist. The position dictates whether a patient is sitting, lying, standing; or if they are on their side, back, or prone (face-down). Positioning is also determined by the patient’s current needs, such as: Are they eating? Sleeping? Having surgery on their back? Are they receiving nutrition through a nasogastric tube?

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.