Bed making is the procedure of preventing infection mainly in the hospital setting by prepare and arrange different types of beds. It is a procedure of making a clean bed for the client in the hospital. Bed making is the scientific-based procedure of preventing infection from hospitals through making the systematic bed for patients. It is a household chore
but is also performed in establishments including hospitals, hotels, and military or educational residences. Bed making is nursing's common procedure.
Bed Making Definition
Bed making is the procedure of arranging the bedsheets and other bedding on a bed, to prepare it for patient use.
Making an appropriate bed that is more suitable and comfortable for the hospitalized patient’s.
Purpose of Bed Making
- To prevent infection.
- To provide the patient with a safe and comfortable bed to take rest and sleep.
- To give the unit or ward a neat & clean appearance.
- To adopt the needs of the patient and to be ready for my emergency or critical condition of illness.
- To economize time, material and effort.
- To prevent bedsore.
- To observe the patient e.g. presence of bedsore, oral hygiene, patient’s ability for self-care, etc. can be observed during bed making.
- To promote cleanliness.
- To establish an effective nurse-patient relationship.
- To provide active and passive exercises to the patients.
- To help the relatives to
learn care for sick at home.
Principal ofBed Making
Principles involved in bed making
- Microorganisms are found everywhere on the skin, on the articles used by the patient and in the environment. The nurse takes care to prevent the transference of microorganisms from the source to the new host by direct or indirect contact or
prevent the multiplications of microorganisms.
- A safe and comfortable bed will ensure rest, sleep and prevent several complications in bed-ridden patients e.g. Bedsore, foot drop, etc.
- Good body mechanics maintain body alignment and prevents fatigue.
- Systematic ways of functioning save time, energy and material.
Basic principles of bed making
- All requirements should be collected before starting.
- Wash hands before and after bed making.
- When removing sheets from the bed, lift the mattress while loosening the bed linen. Never pull the sheets with force.
- Always fold bed linen from top to bottom.
- Turn the mattress from top to bottom or threefold, when the bed is
unoccupied.
- Always arrange bed linen in the correct order with a closed side away, from you before making the bed, it should touch the floor.
- Your uniform should never touch the bed and hold soiled linen away from the uniform.
- Get extra help to make a bed for helpless patients and prevent them from falling, use side rails to prevent from falling, if extra help is not available.
- The sheet or the blanket must never cover the patients face.
- Do not shake the soiled linen in the air because shaking can disseminate secretions and excretion and the microorganism they contained.
- Soiled linen should not be thrown on the floor, but it should be kept in a dirty linen box.
- Any conversation during bed making must include the patient and should not be on personal
matters between the nurses.
Scientific Principles of Bed Making
Scientific Principles of Bed Making published inour “ Procedure Book ” book so purchase it now
Types of bed in hospital
There are mainly two types of bed in the hospital are explained in bellow:
First is Medical Bed and second is Surgical Bed
1. Medical Bed
Simple bed - Simple unoccupied or closed bed or it may be Simple occupied or open bed.
Cardiac bed.
Rheumatism bed
Blanket bed
Renal bed.
Admission bed.
2. Surgical Bed
Operation bed
Fracture bed.
Amputation bed, or divided bed.
Admission bed.
There are different types of bed making so we learn one by one
Bed making types
Unoccupied bed Making
A Simple unoccupied or closed bed sa bed without a patient orwe can say in other words which are made up after the discharge of a patient and left until another patient is admitted to occupy it. As a rule, in a hospital the spread on such a bed is brought to the top of the mattress, thus
protecting all of the other bedclothes from dust, when the new patient arrives, the spread is turned under the blanket at the head of the bed and the sheet is folded down over the spread. The bedding is turned down to the middle of the bed. The pillows are arranged for comfort.
Purpose of unoccupied bed
To give a clean comfortable bed to patients.
It gives ward a neat & clean appearance
It must be conducive to rest and sleep for a new patient.
It must be safe for a new patient.
It must economize the time, effort and materials of nurses.
You can also read this: Lumbar Puncture Procedure
Articles of Simple unoccupied or closed bed
Articles | Rationale |
|---|
| Bottom sheet and bed sheet.
| To protect and cover the bed linen
|
| One draw sheet and mackintosh.
| To protect the bottom sheet
|
| Top sheet, pillowcase
| To cover pillow
|
| Pillow
| To provide comfort & to elevate the head
|
| Blanket
| To provide warmth
|
| Bed spread
| To protect and cover the blanket
|
| Duster, kidney tray
| To prevent the spread of infection and receive waste
|
Cot, mattress, pillow and bottom protection are usually needed for every bed.
Procedure of bed making
Unoccupied bed making procedure with rational
Steps of procedure | Rationale |
|---|
| 1. Prior to the procedure collect all the required articles.
| To economise time and energy.
|
| 2. Perform the hand hygiene before the procedure.
| This prevents cross-contamination.
|
| 3. Raise the bed to a comfortable working height. Strip the bed, loosen all the bedding from all side starting at the head of the bed on the far side and moving around the bed up to the head of the bed on the near side.
| Moving around the bed systemically prevents stretching and reaching and possible muscle strain.
|
| 4. Remove the pillowcases, if soiled and placed the pillow on the bed side chair near the foot of the bed. Roll all soiled linen inside the bottom sheet, hold it away from uniform and placed it directly into the receiving bag not on the floor.
| These actions are essential to prevent the transmission of microorganisms to the nurse and others.
|
| 5. Apply the bottom sheet and draw sheet. Spread the sheet out over the mattress and allow a sufficient amount of the sheet at the top to tuck under the mattress. Miter the sheet at the top corner on the near side and tuck the sheet under the mattress working from the head of the bed to foot.
| 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.
|
| 6. Fan fold the uppermost half of the folded draw sheet at the center or far edge of the bed and tuck in the near edge.
| Completing one entire side of the bed at a time saves time and energy.
|
| 7. Move to the other side and secure the bottom linens pull the remainder of the sheet firmly so that there are no wrinkles.
| Wrinkles can cost discomfort for the client and break down of the skin.
|
| 8. Apply or complete the top sheet, blanket and spread. Tuck in the sheet blanket and the spread at the foot of the bed and miter the corner using all three layers of linen. Leave the side of the top sheet, blanket and spread hanging freely unless toe pleat were provided, fold the top of the top sheet down over the spread, providing a cuff.
| The cuff of sheet makes it easier for the client to pull the covers up.
|
| 9. Put clean pillow cases on the pillows as required adjust the pillow case so that pillows fit into the corner of the case and seem are straight.
| A smoothly fitting pillow case is more comfortable than a wrinkled one.
|
| 10. Provide the client comfort and safety; if the bed is currently being used by a client either folds back the top covers at the one side or fan fold them to the center of the bed.
| This makes it easier for the client to get into the bed.
|
| 11. Place the bed side table and over bed table so that available for the client.
|
|
Occupied bed making
An occupied bed means is that the patient is on the bed.
An occupied bed is also known as a “Simple occupied bed” or “Simple close bed”.
Occupied bed making purpose
An occupied bed
making purpose is the same as an unoccupied bed which is given above.
Occupied bed making Articles
To make an occupied bed making articles is Same used as unoccupied bed articles which are given above.
Occupied bed making procedure
Steps of procedure | Rationale |
|---|
| 1. Check the client’s identification and condition.
| To assess necessity and sufficient condition
|
| 2. Explain the purpose and procedure to the client
| To Provide information fosters cooperation
|
| 3. Perform hand hygiene.
| To prevent the spread of infection.
|
4. Prepare all required equipment and bring the
articles to the bedside
| To promote accurate skill performance
|
| 5. Close the curtain or door or put a screen.
| To maintain the client’s privacy
|
| 6. Remove the client’s personal belongings from the bedside and put them into the bedside locker or safe place.
| To prevent personal belongings from damage and loss
|
| 7. Lift the client’s head and move the pillow from center to the left side.
| To promote comfort
|
| 8. Assist the client to turn toward the left side of the bed.
| To provide more space for the procedure
|
| 9. Adjust the pillow. Leaves top sheet in place
| The top sheet keeps the client warm and protects his or her privacy
|
10. Stand on the right side:
Loose bottom bed linens. Fanfold (or roll) soiled linens from the side of the bed and wedge them close to the client.
| Placing folded (or rolled) soiled linen close to the client allows more space to place the clean bottom sheets.
|
| 11. Wipe the surface of the mattress with a sponge cloth to wet and dry.
| To prevent the spread of infection.
|
| 12. Bottomsheet, mackintosh and draw sheet: 1) Place the clean bottom sheet evenly on the bed folded lengthwise with the center fold as close to the client’s back as possible. 2) Adjust and tuck the sheet tightly under the head of the mattress, making mitered the upper corner. 3) Tighten the sheet under the end of the mattress and make mitered
the lower corner. 4) Tuck in along side. 5) Place the mackintosh and the draw sheet on the bottom sheet and tuck in them together.r
| To remove the soiled linens easily
|
| 13. Assist the client to roll over the folded (rolled) linen to right side of the bed. Readjust the pillow and top sheet.
| To move the client to the bed’s other side allows making the bed on that side
|
14. Pove to left side:
Discard the soiled linens appropriately. Hold them away from your uniform. Place them in the laundry bag (or bucket).
| To protect the uniform as well as the client from soiled linen.
|
15. Wipe the surface of the mattress by sponge cloth with wet and dry.
| To prevent the spread of infection.
|
| 16. Bottomsheet, mackintosh and draw sheet: 1) Grasp clean linens and gently pull them out from under the client. 2) Spread them over the bed’s unmade side. Pull the linens tight. 3) Tuck the bottom sheet tightly under the head of the mattress and miter the corner. 4) Tighten the sheet under the end of
the mattress and make mitered the lower corner. 5) Tuck in along side. 6) Tuck the mackintosh and the draw sheet under the mattress
| To prevent wrinkling as it causes skin irritation.
|
17. Assist the client back to the center of the bed.
Adjust the pillow.
| To provide comfort
|
| 18. Return to right side: Clean top sheet, blanket: 1) Place the clean top sheet at the topside of the soiled top sheet. 2) Ask the client to hold the upper edge of the clean top sheet. 3) Hold both the top of the soiled sheet and the end of the clean sheet with right hand and withdraw to
downward. Remove the soiled top sheet and put it into a laundry bag (or a bucket). 4) Place the blanket over the top sheet. Fold top sheet back over the blanket over the client. 5) Tuck the lower ends securely under the mattress. Miter corners. 6) After finishing the right side, repeat the left side.r
| To save energy and time & also provides neatness
|
| 19. Remove the pillow and replace the pillow cover with clean one and reposition the pillow to the bed under the client’s head.
| To provide comfort
|
| 20. Replace personal belongings back. Return the bedside locker and the bed as usual.
| To prevent personal belongings from loss and provide safe surroundings.
|
| 21. Return all equipment to the proper place.
| To prepare for the next procedure
|
| 22. Discard linens appropriately. Perform hand hygiene.
| To prevent the spread of infection.
|
After care
Determine the client comfort and safety.
Check for patency of all drainage tubes, and connection attached to the patient.
Collect the entire article after the procedure to the utility room and after cleaning and disinfecting replace all articles.
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Click here for the next bed which you won't learn
1. Medical Bed
Cardiac bed.
Rheumatism bed.
Blanket bed or renal bed.
Admission bed.
2. Surgical Bed
Operation
bed
Fracture bed.
Amputation bed, or divided bed.
Admission bed.
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To allow for patient movement and comfort, to keep pressure off the toes and to prevent foot drop the bottom end of the top sheet should not be taut (Pellatt 2007). One way of achieving this is to make a pleat in the sheet before tucking the ends under the mattress (Timby 1996). The lower corners are mitred as before.
