1. Nursing Assistant
Bedmaking

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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