Bed Making
Bed-making is the act of arranging the bedsheets and other bedding on a bed, to prepare it for use.[1] It is a household chore,[2] but is also performed in establishments including hospitals, hotels, and military or educational residences. In some circumstances beds must be made to exacting standards, demanded of nurses or military personnel.[3]
In a hospital or other health-care environment, beds must sometimes be made while occupied by a patient. Specialised techniques are taught to healthcare staff to enable beds to be made efficiently with due care for the patient.[4]
There are different techniques, such as “hospital corners” and “mitred corners”. Military personnel are often expected to fold the bed very tightly, in some cases so that a coin could bounce off of it.[5]
Bed-making is a typical childhood chore.
Guinness World Records reports that the record time for two people to make a bed “with one blanket, two sheets, an undersheet, an uncased pillow, one pillowcase, one counterpane and hospital corners” is 14.0 seconds. This feat was achieved by two nurses from the Royal Masonic Hospital in
In June 2012, Dvice.com reported that Spanish furniture company OHEA had developed a self-making bed, which would rearrange the bedding in 50 seconds at the press of a button.
While it may seem like common knowledge, changing a bed in a hospital or nursing home is different than changing one in your own home. The challenge of making a bed like a nursing assistant is to make the task happen as quickly — and neatly — as possible, while refraining from sacrificing patient care and ensuring the area is as sanitized as possible. It’s best to gather all of your supplies before entering the patient’s room to expedite the process.
Gather all the required linen and accessories before making the bed.
· Sheets.
· Pillowcases.
· Blankets.
· Bedspread.
· Extra pillows.
b. Avoid shaking the linen to prevent the spread of microorganisms and dust particles.
c. Avoid placing linens, clean or dirty, on another patient’s bed.
d. Do not place dirty linen on the floor.
e. Do not hold dirty linen against your uniform.
f. Always use good body mechanics; raise the bed to its highest position to make bed-making easier.
g. Stay on one side of the bed until it is completely made; then move to the other side and finish the bed. This saves time and steps.
h. Observe the patient and document any nursing observations.
· Check for areas of redness that may lead to decubiti formation.
· Note tolerance of activity level while out of bed.
· Note observations about the physical and emotional status of the patient.
· Note any patient teaching or reinforced teaching given and the patient’s response.
Check for drainage, wetness, or other body fluids and record observations.
ASSESSMENT
1. Assess your equipment. Check for all the linens necessary to change the bed. Check for a dirty linen hamper. Facilitates a smooth procedure.
2. Assess whether the bed itself needs cleaning prior to placing clean sheets on it. Reduces the transmission of microorganisms.
3. Assess the client’s needs in the bed. Check for profuse drainage, incontinence, or special needs for comfort or skin integrity. Determines how the procedure will be performed.
4. Assess the client’s ability to assist with the procedure, including mobility, mental status, and muscle strength. Determines whether assistance will be needed to change the client’s linens.
DIAGNOSIS
Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity
PLANNING
Expected Outcomes:
1. The client will have clean linens on the bed.
2. The clean linens will be appropriate to the client’s needs and condition.
3. The linens will be changed with a minimum of trauma to the client.
Equipment Needed
Ø Linen hamper
Ø Top sheet, draw sheet, bottom sheet
Ø Pillowcase
Ø Blanket
Ø Bath blanket
METHODS OF BED-MAKING
. Unoccupied (Closed) Bed. An unoccupied bed is one that is made wheot occupied by a patient.
(1) Raise the bed to a comfortable working height, if adjustable.
(2) Lower siderails, if present.
(3) Remove pillows and pillowcases. Set the pillows aside in a clean area.
(4) Fold and set the blankets and spreads aside (to be reused).
(5) Loosen the linen along the edges of the bed, and move toward the end of the bed.
(6) Wash the mattress if necessary, turn the mattress to the opposite side if necessary, and replace the mattress pad as needed. Observe the mattress for protruding springs.
(7) Place the bottom sheet.
(a) Flat sheet.
1 Position evenly on the bed.
2 Miter the corners at the top of the bed. Lift the mattress slightly, then stretch and tie the ends of the sheet together beneath the mattress. Repeat these steps for the bottom of the bed.
3 Stretch and tuck the free edges at the sides.
(b) Fitted sheet.
1 Fit the sheet on the lower edges of the mattress first. Then lift the mattress and fit the sheet on the top edges of the mattress.
2 Stretch and tuck the free edges at the sides.
(8) Place a draw sheet on the center of the bed, if it is needed.
(a) Tuck in the free edge on one side.
(b) Stretch the draw sheet from the opposite side and tuck in the free edge.
(9) Place the top sheet, blanket (if used), and bedspread.
(a) Position evenly on the bed.
(b) Miter the bottom corners, tucking all three parts together.
(c) Leave the loose ends free.
(10) Fanfold the top linen back to the foot of the bed.
(11) Place a clean pillowcase over the pillow and place it at the head of the bed.
(a) Invert the pillowcase over one hand so the inner back seam is visible.
(b) Grasp the edge of the pillow with one hand holding the pillowcase at the seam.
(c) Use the opposite hand to guide the pillowcase over the pillow.
(12) Adjust the bed to its lowest position, if adjustable.
(13) Reposition the head up slightly, if the patient prefers.
(14) Raise the siderail opposite the side of the bed where the patient will enter.
Occupied (Open) Bed.
An occupied bed is one that is made while occupied by a patient.
(1) Wash your hands.
(2) Identify the patient, explain the procedure, and be sure you will have the patient’s cooperation.
(3) Check the condition of the bed linens to determine which supplies you will need.
(4) Provide for the patient’s privacy (throughout the procedure).
(5) Obtain the articles of linen that you will need.
(6) Place the bath blanket over the patient and the top cover.
(7) Loosen the top bedding from the foot of the bed and remove it. If possible, have the patient hold the bath blanket while you pull the top covers from under it from the foot of the bed.
(8) Move the mattress to the head of the bed.
(9) Move the patient to the distal side of the bed.
(10) Make the bed on one side.
(11) Move or turn the patient to the clean side of the bed, and finish making the bed on the opposite side. Place the clean linen on top, and remove the bath blanket.
(12) Attach the patient’s signal cord within reach.
(13) Provide for the patient’s safety and comfort.
(14) Tidy the room.
Anesthetic, Surgical, or Post-Op Bed.
This is a bed that is prepared to receive a patient from the operating room.
(1) Gather all needed supplies:
(a) Large sheets (2).
(b) Drawsheet (1) or an additional large sheet.
(c) Blanket.
(d) Pillow(s).
(e) Pillowcase(s).
(f) Towel.
(g) Chux, if drainage is anticipated.
(2) Make the bed as though you are making an unoccupied bed, except that the top sheet and blanket are not tucked under the mattress at the foot of the bed, and the corners are not mitered.
(3) Fanfold the top covers to the side or to the foot of the bed.
(4) Place a towel or disposable pad (Chux ®) at the head of the bed. This is intended to protect the sheet if the patient should vomit.
(5) It is a good idea to place a drawsheet on the bed because it can be used to move the patient more easily.
(6) Place the pillow(s) on a chair near the bed or in an upright position at the head of the bed.
(7) Leave the bed in the high position.
(8) Lock the brakes on the bed.
(9) Move the furniture away from the bed to allow for easier access to the bed for the recovery room stretcher and personnel.
(10) Make certain an emesis basin is readily available and suction is available where indicated.
(11) Keep Chux available to use if necessary.
EVALUATION
• The client has clean, unwrinkled linen.
• The linen placed on the bed is suitable for the client’s special needs.
• The linen was changed with a minimum of pain and trauma to the client.
DOCUMENTATION
Nurses’Notes
• Document the bed change, how the client tolerated it, and any unusual findings.
NURSING TIPS
• Roll or fold the linens under the client. Don’t just stuff them underneath the client.
• Be aware of wrinkles and seams that the client may be lying on. They can cause pressure areas in the client’s skin. Check for personal belongings in the client’s bed when changing the linens. Clients may keep important items near them in bed.
• Be sure to keep the side rails up on the opposite side of the bed.
• Get help from another caregiver if the client is combative or difficult to move.
Types of Hospital Beds
1. Routine beds:
· Simple unoccupied bed.
· An occupied bed.
1. Special beds:
· Cardiac bed.
· Orthopedic bed.
· Operation bed.
· Adimission bed.
· Divided bed.
· Aputation bed.
· Plaster of Paris bed.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
Yes, yes a million times: Bed makes itself in 50 seconds
Friday, June 8, 2012 – 7:01am
It’s here. The self-making bed. Whether it is because you don’t have time to make things tidy, or you can’t be bothered to do it yourself it doesn’t really matter. This bed will make itself in a mere 50 seconds.
Spanish furniture maker OHEA is behind the bed that makes itself. The bed looks unassuming enough, but once activated it looks like one of James Bond’s cars with all kinds of hidden doors and levers springing into action.
When deployed, the self-tidying bed will release a small mechanical arm from a hidden area on the side and its two rollers will pull the cover or duvet up to the head of the bed.
Your pillows aren’t ignored either. They are straightened by cords attached to the pillowcases as they are elevated during the bed making process. When the cover is straight, the pillows fall back into place.
Any bed that has gone far enough to straighten out the pillows and hides rollers isn’t going to leave you vulnerable to being trapped in bed while it’s being made. There is a switch — as there always is with any good device — that has two settings, manual and automatic. If you place it in automatic mode, it will detect when the bed is empty and wait to activate the bed three seconds after that.
While it seems like they’ve thought of everything, the bed is clearly already geared towards the tidy minded. There isn’t much covering the bed but a light duvet and frankly in my neck of the woods that’s about three covers too little in the winter.
How the bed would handle the extra jumble of covers in that environment is questionable.
I can’t wait to see how the bed performs in the real world, and if they make a heavy-duty edition that can put up with my pile of covers I’d consider giving it a try.
Fastest time to make a bed by a team of two
For the record
· Who: Sharon Stringer and Michelle Benkel
· What: Fastest time to make a bed by a team of two
· Where: United Kingdom
