Bedmaking for nursing

1. BEDMAKING
N1J02 – January 6, 2025
Amy Palma, RN, MSc

2. HOSPITAL BEDS
 Bed position used to promote
comfort, increase lung
expansion, prevent
aspiration/food regurgitation
 Control on side of bed to raise
head, foot, overall height of bed
 Wheels lock into position
 Some beds have alarms:
importance in falls prevention
 Side rails move up/down
 Head & foot boards can be
removed
 Important in emergency
procedures, like airway
management during CPR

4. BEDMAKING
 Linen should be clean, dry, wrinkle free
 Should be made in a.m. after bath/shower, or when patient up out of bed
 Check periodically during shift if dirty, soiled, wet
 Follow routine practices for infection prevention
 Carry linen away from your uniform
 Dispose in dirty linen hamper
 Do not put linen on floor
 Do not shake dirty linens
 Apply principles of good body mechanics, patient safety & privacy
 Raise opposite bed rail
 Raise bed while working, lower when done
 Pull curtain around patient’s area

5. EQUIPMENT
•Linen bag
•Bottom sheet (flat or fitted)
•Drawsheet (optional)
•Top sheet
•Blanket
•Bedspread
•Waterproof pads or soaker pad (optional)
•Pillowcases
•Bedside chair or table
•Disposable gloves (if linen is soiled)
•Washcloth
•Antiseptic cleanser

6. PATIENT COMFORT
 Try to get the patient up as the care plan
allows
 When patients are diaphoretic (sweating),
have draining wounds, or are incontinent,
nurses should check frequently for soiled
linens
 Consider that seriously ill patients may
remain in bed for a long time, so keeping
linens fresh and clean will add greatly to
their comfort
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

7. INFECTION CONTROL
 Keep soiled linens away from your uniform/scrubs
 Soiled linens – follow hospital policy for disposal-need a waterproof
bag for very soiled linens with bodily fluids
 Do not shake bed linens-microorganisms can travel on air currents
 Do not place/throw linen on the floor
 If clean linen falls on the floor, do not use – place in hamper
 Gloves should be worn if linens are soiled, or if contact with body
secretions is possible
 Wipe mattress with antiseptic according to hospital policy

8. LINENS
 Draw sheet – half sheet that goes under
the middle part of the patient body
 Great for assisting us in repositioning
 Also can change the draw sheet to
freshen up the bed instead of
changing the bottom sheet
 May also be waterproof
 Bath blanket
 Usually a flannel sheet we use to cover
the patient when doing a bedbath, or
when making an occupied bed

10. MAKING AN OCCUPIED BED
 Gather all needed supplies first
 Wear gloves if linen is soiled or you may contact body
secretions
 Raise bed to working height
 Remove top linen and cover patient with bath blanket
 Turn patient on side, raise far side rail (rail must be up
on the side you are not working on)
 Loosen bottom linen and fan fold under patient;
clean/disinfect mattress if soiled
 Apply new clean bed linen to empty side of bed
(bottom sheet, drawsheet, soaker pad)
 Slowly roll patient over linen to other side of bed, raise
side rail

11. OCCUPIED BED
 Retrieve clean linen from under patient
and apply to mattress
 Place client supine, then apply top
covers (top sheet, blanket, bedspread),
using neat mitred corners and cuff at top
 Change pillowcase
 Put call bell back in patient reach,
reorganize supplies, lower bed, discard
dirty linen properly
 Observe patient for fatigue, dyspnea,
pain, skin irritation

14. REFERENCES
Astle, B.J. & Duggleby,W. (2024).
Potter & Perry: Canadian
fundamentals of nursing. (7th ed.).
Toronto, ON: Elsevier, (Chapter 39,
Hygiene).
Clinical Skills: Essentials
Collection, 1st
Canadian edition
(2024): Evolve Elsevier.