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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

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.

Performing the Heimlich Maneuver

The Heimlich Maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, is used to remove an object that is blocking a resident’s airway and preventing air from reaching the lungs. It only takes four to six minutes for brain damage to occur from lack of oxygen, so prompt action is vital.

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.

Rectal Temperature with Electronic Thermometer

A rectal temperature provides the most accurate core body temperature reading compared to other non-invasive methods. This makes a rectal temperature desirable; however, this procedure comes with more patient discomfort and more safety risks (bowel perforation, mucosal damage, and/or vagus nerve stimulation) than the other temperature measurement methods.

Partial Bed Bath

Bathing is an important part of a patient’s health routine. A partial bed bath focuses on bathing sensitive areas that cause discomfort if not cleansed frequently, such as the face, hands, axillae, back, and perineum. Though patients receiving a bed bath are typically confined to the bed, some are able to wash themselves and should be encouraged to do so to promote independence.

Transferring the Resident from a Bed with a Mechanical Lift

A mechanical lift is used to transfer residents who cannot support their own weight. When used properly, mechanical lifts prevent injuries for both residents and health care workers. It is important that a nurse’s assistant be trained to use the mechanical lift before attempting to operate it. Most facilities require at least two health care workers to assist when using a mechanical lift.

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