Occupied bed making procedure

Purpose: to provide comfort, cleanliness and facilitate position of the patients

Essential equipment:
• Two large sheets
• Draw sheet
• Pillow case
• Pajamas or gown, if necessary

Procedure:
• If a full bath is not given at this time, the patient’s back should be washed and cared for
• Wash hands and collect equipment
• Explain procedure to the patient
• Carry all equipment to the bed and arrange in the order it is to be used
• Make sure the windows and doors are closed
• Make the bed flat, if possible
• Loosen all bedding from the mattress, beginning at head of the bed, and place dirty pillow cases on the chair for receiving dirty linen
• Have patient flex knees, or help patient do so. With one hand over the patient’s shoulder and the shoulder hand over the patient’s knees, turn the patient towards you
• Never turn a helpless patient away from you, as this may cause him/her to fall out bed
• When you have made the patient comfortable and secure as near to the edge of the bed as possible, to go the other side carrying your equipment with you
• Loosen the bedding on that side
• Fold, the bed spread half way down from the head
• Fold the bedding neatly up over patient
• Roll dirty bottom sheet close to patient
• Put on clean bottom sheet on used top sheet center, fold at center of bed, rolling the top half close to the patient, tucking top and bottom ends tightly and mitering the corner
• Put on rubber sheet and draw sheet if needed
• Turn patient towards you on to the clean sheets and make comfortable on the edge of bed
• Go to the opposite side of bed. Taking basin and wash cloths with you, give patient back care
• Remove dirty sheet gently and place in dirty pillow case, but not on the floor
• Remove dirty bottom sheet and unroll clean linen
• Tuck in tightly at ends and miter corners
• Turn patient and make position comfortable
• Back rub should be given before the patient is turned on his/her back
• Place clean sheet over top sheet and ask the patient to hold it if she/he is conscious
• Go to foot of bed and pull the dirty top sheet out
• Replace the blanket and bed spread
• Miter the corners
• Tuck in along sides for low beds
• Leave sides hanging on high beds
• Turn the top of the bed spread under the blanket
• Turn top sheet back over the blanket and bed spread
• Change pillowcase, lift patient’s head to replace pillow.
Loosen top bedding over patient’s toes and chest
• Be sure the patient is comfortable
• Clean bedside table
• Remove dirty linen, leaving room in order Wash hands