Comfort promotion: Bedmaking

Bed-making is important for maintaining proper hygiene and the comfort for the clients. It is usually done in the morning before visiting hours or while the client is dressing or bathing.

In hospitals, bed linens are changed daily, while in a long-term care setting, it might be less frequent. However, there are also situations when linens should be changed straight away.

These include excessive wrinkling and soiling by spilled food and drinks, sweating, urine, feces, vomit, wound drainage, and feeding tube leakage.Before we talk about bed-making, it’s important to know the different status of beds.

Closed beds are not currently being used. They are either waiting for a new client to arrive or there’s already a client assigned to it, but they'll be out of the bed for a while.

An open bed is a bed currently in use or one that’s prepared for a client who’ll be occupying it soon. So it might be for a new client who's on their way or a current client who’s expected to return shortly, like from a diagnostic test or a bath.Next, a surgical bed is an open bed that’s prepared for a client who will require a stretcher to be moved to the bed.

This could be someone who just had surgery or had an injury that requires them to be carried. Finally, occupied beds are beds with individuals who are unable to leave the bed.

Now, before we get into the procedures, there are some general considerations for you to follow when making a bed. Wash your hands before collecting clean linens.

Always take exactly what you need. Never bring extra linens into the clients’ room because, once in the clients’ room, linens are considered contaminated and cannot be used for another client.When placing clean linens, they should be centered and placed so that the stitching is facing the mattress and make sure there are no wrinkles.

Practice infection control when handling linens. Hold them away from your body, so they don’t touch your uniform and don’t let them come in contact with dirty surfaces.

Don’t shake linens as it can spread microbes. Now, when removing used linens, remember to wear gloves.

Remove linens one piece at a time by rolling them away from you and towards the center of the mattress. Place used linens in the designated receptacle.

If any substances or body fluids leak onto the mattress or the bed frame, wipe them with a cleaning solution. If you have come into contact with substances or body fluids, be sure to change your gloves and perform hand hygiene.

Before we get to making the bed, you will have to learn how to make a mitered corner which is used to anchor linens to the head or the foot of the bed.For a flat bottom sheet, make mitered corners at the head of the bed.

First tuck the top of the sheet under the head of the mattress. Take the end of the sheet at about 12 inches from the head of the bed and lift it up to make a triangle.

Lay the triangle on the bed and smooth and tuck the hanging part of the sheet under the mattress. Bring the triangle back down and leave the sides of the sheet hanging loose.

For the top sheet, blanket, and bedspread, make mitered corners in the same way but at the foot of the bed.Now, we can start making beds.

To make an unoccupied bed you’ll need: bottom sheet, draw sheet if needed, bed protector if needed, top sheet, blanket, bedspread, and a pillowcase.First, lay the linens on a clean surface.

Raise the bed to a height that’s comfortable to work with. Lock the wheels and lower the bed rails.

Move the mattress to the proper position and place the bottom sheet over the mattress. Unfold it so the vertical crease remains visible which will help you center it.

Now unfold the sheet over the bed so that the same length hangs over both sides of the bed. First tuck in the part at the head of the mattress.

Then make a mitered corner and tuck in the sheet under the mattress on your side, starting from the head and working to the foot of the bed.

Place a draw sheet on top. Now tuck in the bottom sheet on the other side in the same way.

Next, unfold the top sheet on the bed just like you did the bottom sheet. Make sure the same length hangs over each side of the bed.

Pull the top sheet down at the foot of the bed but don’t tuck it in. Unfold the blanket over the top sheet and open it in the same way.

The top of the blanket should be slightly lower than the top sheet at the head of the mattress. Fold the visible part of the top sheet over the blanket to make a cuff.

Unfold the bedspread over the blanket so that the top is in line with the head of the mattress. The sides of the bedspread should cover everything else.

The bottom of the bedspread should be over the blanket and the top sheet at the foot of the mattress. Now tuck in the bedspread, the blanket, and the top sheet together under the mattress and make mitered corners at the foot of the mattress.

Fold the bedspread at the head of the bed to make a cuff. For the pillow, rest it on the bed.

Take the closed end of the pillowcase and turn it inside out. With your hands in the pillowcase, grab the pillow and pull the pillowcase over the pillow.

Tags and zippers should be inside the pillowcase. Place the pillow on the bed so that the open end of the pillowcase is facing away from the door.To make an open bed, simply take a closed bed and turn back or fanfold the bedspread, blanket, and the top sheet together.

To make a surgical bed, don’t tuck in the top sheet, the blanket, and the bedspread. Instead, fold back the part you would usually tuck in.

Fanfold the linen lengthwise to the side of the bed that will not be in use so that the other side is free to receive the client.

Now, to make an occupied bed you’ll need gloves, bath blanket, bottom sheet, draw sheet if needed, bed protector if needed, top sheet, blanket, bedspread, and a pillowcase.

First, place the linens on a clean surface. Raise the bed to a height that’s comfortable to work with.

Lock the wheels and lower the bed rails on the side you’ll be working on. Remove the call light and check the bed for any personal items like glasses.

Lower the head of the bed as much as possible while keeping the client comfortable. Put the gloves on.

Loosen the bedspread, the blanket, and the top sheet. Spread a bath blanket to cover the client.

If possible, have the client hold the bath blanket; if not, tuck the corners under their shoulders. Remove the bedspread, blanket, and top sheet by pulling it under the bath blanket.

Help the client into the lateral position where they are facing away from you. Loosen the draw sheet and the bottom sheet.

Fanfold the linen towards the client and tuck the linen underneath the client. Place the bottom sheet on the bed so that the vertical crease remains which will help you center it.

Tuck the bottom sheet under the head of the mattress and make a mitered corner. Then tuck the side of the bottom sheet under the mattress going from the head of the bed to the foot.Place the draw sheet on top.

Roll the opposite side under the client and the old sheets. Raise the side rails on your side.

Help the client roll over the folded linens toward you. Move to the other side and lower the side rails.

Remove the soiled linens. Repeat the process of adjusting the clean linens.

Help the client move back to the middle of the bed and raise the side rails. Next, change the pillowcase and place the pillow under the client’s head.

Unfold a clean top sheet over the client and the bath blanket so that the vertical crease remains visible to help you center it.

Make sure not to cover the client’s face. Open the top sheet, making sure the same length hangs over both sides.

If possible, have the client hold the top sheet; if not, tuck the corners under their shoulders. Pull the bath blanket from under the top sheet to remove it.

Unfold and place the blanket and bedspread over the top sheet. Tuck the bedspread, the blanket, and the top sheet together under the foot of the bed and make mitered corners on both sides.

Make room for toes by grasping the sheets together at the toes and pulling up. Lower the bed back to its original position and raise the head of the bed to a position comfortable for the client.All right as a quick recap...

Bed-making is usually done in the morning before visiting hours or while the client is dressing or bathing. The technique you use for bed-making depends on the type of bed: closed, open, surgical, or occupied bed.

The main difference is that occupied beds have clients in them which requires a special technique, care, and consideration.

It is important for you to learn the technique of bed-making to ensure proper hygiene and comfort for the clients. is dressing or bathing the technique you use for bed.

Making depends on the type of bed closed open surgical or occupied bed. The main difference is that occupied beds have clients in them, which requires a special technique care and consideration.

It is important for you to learn the technique of bed, making to ensure proper hygiene and comfort for the clients.