Bed Making

Definition

• Bed making is an art.

• Skillful bed making contributes materially to

the patient’s comfort.

• Clean and comfortable bed includes the

patient’s unit in the hospital.
 Purpose of Bed Making in Hospital:  

• Bed-making is a nursing art. The purpose of

the bed-making should be patients or clients-
centred. The main purposes of bed-making
are to prevent complications by ensuring
comfort and security to patient.
• To provide rest and sleep.
• To provide physical and psychological comfort
and security to the patient.
 Purpose of Bed Making in Hospital:

• To give the unit neat appearance.

• To establish an effective nurse patients
relationship.
• To provide active and passive exercise to the
patient.
• To promote fresh and cleanliness.
 Purpose of Bed Making in Hospital:

• To accommodate/adapt the patient’s needs.

• To reduce patient’s exertion by bed-making.
• To eliminate irritants to skin from patient’s
body.
• To dispose soiled and dirty linen properly.
• To save time, effort and material properly.
•    To provide clean and comfortable bed to the
patient
 Purpose of Bed Making in Hospital:

• To develop skill in the posture/body alignment

of the nurse in bed-making.
• To observe, identify and prevent patient’s
complications.
 Basic Principle of Bed Making in Hospital:

• Skillful bed making contributes patients

comfort.

• Some basic principles of bed-making are

pointed below
• It is important to learn that how to make a
bed in such a way where least amount of
energy and time is required.
 Basic Principle of Bed Making in Hospital:

• During bed-making, use good body movement

and make each step purposeful.
• Keep everything ready on bed side before
starting bed-making.
• Change bed linen frequently to assure
cleanliness.
• To ensure the patient need by providing a safe
and comfortable bed.
 Basic Principle of Bed Making in Hospital:

• It should have a finished appearance.

• To make bed tight and free from wrinkles,

place all linen straight line on the bed.

• Prevent complications of prolonged bed

ridden patient such as pressure sore.
 Basic Principle of Bed Making in Hospital:

• Soiled linen or linen whether clean or dirty

should not be thrown on the floor, they should
be kept in a dirty linen box.
• After cleaning the bed, dump dust with soapy
water and disinfectant properly.
• Try to prevent cross infection of microorganism
during bed-making.
• Ensure all bed-making in a nursing unit alike for
uniformity of appearance.
 Remember During Bed Making in Hospital:

• During bed-making,
 bed position keep elevated, this ensures
nursing staff’s good body alignments
 the nurse should study her movements so as
to avoid waste of time and energy.
• After completing, bed should be left in a lower
position.
 Remember During Bed Making in Hospital:

• During occupied bed making, confirm patient

safety and comfort.

• Wash hands before and after bed making and

use gloves during bed-making.

• Maintain privacy while making bed.

Remember During Bed Making in Hospital:

• Keep soiled linen away from uniform which

may have germs.
• Do not shake dirty linen to prevent germs
spread around room.
• Do not mix soiled and clean linen during bed-
making.
• For bed ridden patient, mattress must be
turned air and ensure free of lumps and fold.
 BODY MECHANICS IN BED MAKING

When bending, bend your knees, not your back in

order to keep the center of gravity above and close to
the base of support and help prevent fatigue

Face your entire body in the direction that you are

moving to avoid twisting in order to prevent strain or
injury

Organize your work. Conserve your steps by making a

few trips around the bed as possible
 Necessary supplies for bed making include:

• Clean linens,
• A tight bottom sheet to prevent wrinkles that
might cause skin irritation, and
• Upper bed clothing that does not weigh on
the client’s body or restrict movements, but
still covers his or her shoulders.
 Special Appliances used in Bed Making

 Special beds are used on many occasions for

the comfort of the patient, protection of bed
linen, prevention of pressure sores, facilitation
of easier putting of patients in bed and care of
patients with certain conditions

 Extra appliances may be added to the

requirements for a simple bed in the
preparation of special beds
 These appliances include:

Mackintosh
Water proof material used to protect the bottom sheets,
pillows and mattress from getting wet
Bed Cradle
Appliance used to keep the weight of the linen off the
patient e.g. in patient with burns to protect linen from
touching the area with wound
Bed Blocks
Made of wood and used to raise the bed on one side e.g.
to supply blood to vital organs like the brain
Bed Rest/Back Rest
Help the patient sit in upright position. May be
attached to or separate from the bed and can be
adjusted to different degrees
Fracture Boards
They are boards (wooden) placed under the
mattress to provide a firm rigid foundation to the
bed and prevent the mattress from sagging. Aid in
immobilization on affected part of the body.
Sand Bags
Small bags made of impermeable material filled
with sand. They are used to support patients legs to
prevent foot drop. May also be used to immobilize
a fractured limb
Air – Rings
Rubber ring placed beneath the patient’s buttocks
to keep them from direct contact with the bed.
Relieve pressure hence prevent pressure sores.
Bed Tables
Specially made tables which can be drawn up in
front of the patient and may be used during
meals or for leaning slightly forward incase the
patient has difficulty in breathing
Hot Water Bottles
Bottles of rubber used to give warmth to the
patient. They may also be used to relieve pain
Foot Boards
Used to secure and support the patients foot
Water Beds
They are just like mattress though have a place to fill with
hot water
Air Beds
These are mattresses that are filled with air
Ripple Mattresses
Have segments and uses electricity to put air pressure. Used
to relieve pressure
 ASSIGNMENT
Read and make notes on the procedures of making the following
types of beds
1. Occupied bed
2. Unoccupied bed (closed and open)
3. Admission bed
4. Post – operative bed
5. Fracture bed
6. Cardiac bed
7. Amputation bed
8. Divided bed
9. Tent bed
There are two broad categories of beds:
1. Occupied Bed
This is a bed that is occupied by a client, in most cases by a
bedridden patient or critically ill patients

2. Unoccupied
This is a bed not occupied by patients
a) Closed: Made when preparing the unit and there is no patient
assigned to it
b) Open: Made for a client who is not in the bed at that particular
time. The top covers are folded 1/3 from top to bottom to facilitate
easy getting in.
 SPECIAL BEDS
1. Admission Bed
It is made like a simple bed with mackintosh, one of the
blankets/sheets/draw sheets placed over it and tucked
in.
The top bed clothes are now put on and are
individually turned over but not tucked in.
The bed clothes at the side of bed nearest to the door
are folded over, leaving this side open to facilitate quick
admission
Objectives
To have it made up in such a way that the patient can be admitted
without delay
To allow for immediate admission to bed of acutely ill patients
Requirements:
2 Sheets
1 Draw sheet
Blankets
1 Bed cover
1 Draw mackintosh
Mattress and Mackintosh
Pillows and pillow covers
. Post – Operative Bed
Objectives
To have a bed ready to receive a patient from the
operating theatre
To counteract shock
To get the patient as quickly as possible
To protect linen from vomitus or saliva
To clear the mouth of saliva or any vomitus for
which purpose a tray is prepared
Extra requirements:
A vomitus bowl
Post – operative tray containing gauze swabs, air
way, sponge holding forceps, metal spatula, towel
Small extra mackintosh
Bed blocks
Drip stand
Observation chart
. Fracture Bed
Fracture boards are placed on the frame of bed under the
mattress. The bed is then made up to suit the requirements
of the patient

Objective
To provide a firm base to prevent sagging of the mattress

Extra requirement:
A fracture board
4. Cardiac Bed
It is specifically made for patients who have failing
heart and sometimes patients with respiratory diseases
where breathing is difficult since the patients are more
comfortable when sitting in extreme upright position.
The patient has to be kept warm since in heart failure
the circulation is impaired and the patient is liable to
feel cold.
The patient should be comfortable
Extra requirements:
A bed/ back rest
As many pillows as necessary for patient’s
comfort
A bed table and a soft pillow
Air ring in a cotton cover
A foot rest
. Amputation Bed
Objectives
To keep the weight of the top linen off the amputated limb

Extra requirements:
Dressing mackintosh
3 Dressing towels
2 Sand bags
Tourniquet
Bed cradle
Extra bed cover
Divided Bed
A bed made in two separate parts with a division in the center

Objectives
Examination of lower abdomen
Examination of the rectum or vagina
During catheterization
Dressing wounds of the perineal region
Treatment of fracture of femur
Note: Extra requirements like those of amputation bed except
tourniquet, 3 dressing towels, 2 sandbags and dressing mackintosh
Tent Bed
They have an electrically powered fan that circulates cool
air and nebulized water particles inside a canopy which
covers the entire patient
Mostly used for infant and pediatric patients with dried
secretions especially those with laryngotracheobronchitis
(croup), bronchitis, bronchiolitis, inhalation burns and other
edematous airway processes
Can be used to give oxygen concentrations to approximately
50% if the canopy is well tucked under the mattress
Objectives
Provide continuous cool mist/ steam with
oxygen if needed
In management of laryngeal, tracheal or
bronchial edema
Help promote and improve cough mechanism
Hydrate dried secretions
Notes:
Must have a working circulation unit. Malfunctions in this unit can
cause excessive heat and CO2 build up inside the tent canopy
Precautions for oxygen usage must be adhered to
Water reservoir must be monitored
Consistent O2 concentration can not be maintained if canopy is
opened frequently
Bed linen can become damp hence need to be monitored and
changed
Large volume nebulizers are susceptible to contamination
Potential for electric shock or fire exists from electric fan or static
electricity from the plastic
Extra requirements:
A complete pediatric mist tent with nebulizer
unit, fan and drain bottle
Mist tent canopy
High – pressure O2 hose, about 6 feet in length
O2 or air flow meter
Two liters of sterile water
Oxygen analyzer for monitoring O2
 Key Concept

• Every client needs a smooth, clean bed for

comfort and to prevent complications.
Wrinkles or crumbs can make the client
uncomfortable and cause skin breakdown.
• It is very important to change linens that are
soiled. One or more incontinence pads are
added to the linens on the bed if the client is
bleeding, incontinent, or vomiting
 Key Concept

• The client with an orthopaedic disorder often

requires a head-to-toe linen change, sometimes
more than once a day

• This client must be moved very carefully

particularly if he or she has an unstabilized fracture.

• Proper body mechanics are an essential part of bed

making. Put them into practice.
• THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
QUESTIONS