Nursing Assistant Bedmaking

Comfort due to bedmaking Bed should be clean, neat, & dry Body exerts pressure unevenly over bony prominences when against mattress for extended periods – always use mattress pad Bed linen MUST be wrinkle-FREE! State of mind affected by bed condition- keep bed in good repair, clean, well-made, wrinkle-free, & attractive with bedspread Keep call light in place, clipped to linen Keep resident reality-oriented by using personal pillows, afghans, familiar objects

Bed linen as an irritant Use sheets to separate blanket from skin, preventing fibers from irritating Keep bottom linens tucked in & wrinkle free Cover plastic with cotton drawsheet Straighten & tighten loose sheets, blankets, & bedspreads as necessary Strong laundry soaps may cause skin irritation, watch for problems & report

Aseptic technique with bed making Wash hands, germs spread by cross-contamination Hold & carry linen away from uniform Dirty linen makes you dirty Clean linen gets dirty Shaking linens or fluffing in air spreads dust & germs Keep linen off floor or bedside table as to not spread germs. Soiled linen should be placed in a linen hamper or rolled tightly & tucked at foot of bed Cover dirty linen hampers

Hospital beds Manually operated – hand cranks at foot of bed to raise or lower head, foot, or total bed. Keep cranks down when not in use Electric beds – controls at side for resident & NA use or at foot of bed for NA use

Hospital beds Side rails Uses Regulations regarding use Prevent resident from falling out of bed Provide security Give resident support to hold or grasp when moving or turning Regulations regarding use Considered restraints Must have consent to use Need for use must be noted in resident’s record & care plan Resident must be checked frequently if side rails are ordered

Bed positions High position – encourages staff to use good body mechanics Low position – encourages ambulatory resident to get in & out of bed safely Fowler’s position – used for resident comfort in eating & breathing easily Semi-Fowler’s position – used for comfort, raise knees 15 degrees to keep from sliding down in bed Trendelenberg’s position – HOB lowered, FOB raised. Requires doctor’s order Reverse trendelenberg – FOB lowered, HOB raised. Requires doctor’s order

Body Mechanics in bed making Know limitations. Don’t lift, turn, or move resident alone if in doubt Get close to side of bed, don’t make from the top or bottom of the bed Back straight, knees bent, feet apart Move feet to turn in direction wanted & avoid twisting back Raise bed to comfortable height Make one side of bed before beginning other side

Unoccupied bed making Place linen on clean surface Stack linen in order to be used with first thing on top & last thing on bottom Place bed in flat position If removing soiled linen, untuck linen & roll towards center with soiled side inside Place soiled linen in hamper

Unoccupied bed making Remove pillowcase, place in hamper & place pillow on clean surface Wash hands Mattress pad Bottom sheet, small hem at bottom, tuck in at top Miter corners Draw sheet Top sheet, large hem at top, tucked at bottom Blanket, bedspread, tuck all top linen together, mitering corners Pillow & pillowcase