LECTURE SLIDES

ON

BEDMAKING PROCEDURES
(FOUNDATION OF NURSING SCIENCE I)

MRS OYELEYE, O.R

(NURSING DEPARTMENT)

200 LEVEL STUDENTS

(FIRST SEMESTER)

ANCHOR UNIVERSITY, LAGOS STATE.

 INTRODUCTION
• At the end of the lecture, the students should be able to;
• Explain the purpose of bedmaking

• Understand the principles of bedmaking

• Understand the rules guiding bedmaking

• List the equipment for bedmaking

• List the bed accessories

• State the purposes of the identified bed accessories

 BED MAKING PROCEDURES
• Bed making is a very important procedure in Nursing to provide comfort for the
patient during hospitalization. There are different types of bed making which
varies according to the health need of the patient.

• Bed making is a technique in which different types of beds are prepared according
to patients/clients health related needs.

• All patients in hospital have their beds made at least once a day and more if their
nursing care demands it. E.g. whenever the bed gets soiled. For example
unconscious patients who have incontinent need their beds made each time the
linen becomes soiled.

• Bed making is like any other procedure and so have aims and rules for carrying it
out.
 PURPOSE OF BEDMAKING

• To provide safety and comfort for the client or patient

• To make the ward looks neat and organized.

• To provide cleanliness and neatness of the bed itself

• To prepare for an emergency or special procedures.

• To prevent bed sores and infections

• To promote neat appearances and cleanliness

 PURPOSE OF BEDMAKING cont…
• To improve nursing care standards of hygiene and general care

• To establish effective nurse – patient relationship

• To provide suitable position for the patient according to their condition

• A safe and comfortable bed will ensure rest, sleep and prevents several
complications in bedridden patient, e.g. pressure sore, foot drop, etc.

• It keeps the bed and environment clean and neat.

• It helps to promote physical and mental health.

 PRINCIPLES OF BED MAKING
• Wash hands and dry clean before and after the procedure

• Take the consent from patient if it is an occupied bed

• Give full attention to the patient and speak to the patient and not with your fellow
nurse unnecessarily

• Close all side windows and use screen where needed especially in an occupied
bed, put off fans to protect the patient from drought on a cold day

• Screen the bed so that he is not exposed unnecessarily and close the ward to
visitors
 PRINCIPLES OF BED MAKING cont…
• Call for an assistance, because it is a two nurse procedures

• Arrange all necessary equipment before the procedure

• Maintain uniformity / harmony to produce good envelope corner

• Avoid the edges of the floor from touching the floor

 PRINCIPLES OF BED MAKING cont…
• The principle of good body mechanism ensuring stability and your uniform not
touching the bed linen. Good body mechanics maintains the body alignment and
prevents fatigue.

• Always fold bed linen from top to bottom

• Get extra help to make bed for helpless patient to prevent falling.
 RULES OF BED MAKING cont…
• Do not shake soiled linen in the air to avoid cross infection

• The bed has to be made comfortable, neat and clean

• a) Sheets have to be smooth on the bed, crumbs should be removed, soiled linen
taken away

• b) The patient must be made comfortable resting on pillows.

• Hygiene
a) Always sue clean linen and beddings for each new patient
 RULES OF BED MAKING cont…
b) Avoid cross – infection by:-

• i. Washing hands after making of beds of infectious patients or those with septic
lesions and on completion of bed making

• ii. Do not put any linen on the next patient’s bed

• iii. If linen is dropped on the floor it should not be used.

• iv. Use the dirty linen container for dirty linen. Never put it on the floor

• v. Do not make a bed when sterile procedures are in progress in the ward.
 RULES OF BED MAKING cont…
• Protecting beddings
• a) Put all linen from an infectious patient to soak in a disinfectant first for 2hrs

• b) Use a large mackintosh for incontinent patients

• c) Use a small mackintosh at the head of every unconscious or post – operative

patient

• d) Use a bed cradle over leaking wounds

 GENERAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO MAKE A
HOSPITAL BED
• - Hospital bed
• - Spring cover
• - Mattress
• - 2 bed sheets
• - 1 mackintosh
• 4 - 1 draw sheet
• - 1 pillow & pillow cover
• - 1 blanket
• - 1 bed cover or counter pane
• - 2 chairs for stripping the bed
 BED APPLIANCES/ACCESSORIES cont…

• Mackintosh or plastic sheet

• Purposes: ∙ To protect the bottom sheet
∙ To protect the pillow
∙ To protect the bed clothes during a procedure

• Backrest
• Purposes: ∙ To help the patient sit upright in bed
Different degrees of elevation can be made.
 BED APPLIANCES/ACCESSORIES cont…
• Fracture board
• Purpose: ∙ Placed directly under the mattress to provide a firm support
• Hot water bottles. These are rubber bottles
• Purposes ∙ To give added warmth to the patient
∙ To help in relief of pain
∙ To relieve retention of urine

• Note: - the hot water bottles must always be covered during its use and never
placed directly against the patient’s skin.
 BED APPLIANCES/ACCESSORIES cont…
• Bed cradle
• Purpose ∙ To keep the weight of bed clothes off the patient’s body

• Bed – block/ elevator

• Bed – blocks are made of wood and bed elevators are made of metal.
• Purpose ∙ To elevate the top or bottom of the bed

• Air ring
• Purpose ∙ To prevent friction

• Foot rest
• Purpose ∙ To prevent foot drop
 BED APPLIANCES/ACCESSORIES cont…
• Over bed table / cardiac table
• Purpose: A mobile table drawn up in front of the patient for meals or medicines
or to put pillows on for the patient to breathe more easily when sitting forward.

• Side rails
• Purpose ∙ These are protective barriers attached to the bed as a safety measure.

• Sand bags
• This is a bag filled with sand
• Purpose ∙ To prevent movement of a limb in the treatment of special conditions
GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR BED MAKING
• 1. Close the ward for routine bed making and screen the bed.

• 2. Have everything ready before starting to make a bed. If necessary close the
windows

• 3. Always work from the top of the bed except when putting on the counterpane
•
• 4. Never let the pillows or bed clothes touch the floor

• 5. Do not cover the patient’s face or mouth with bed clothes

• 6. Change all or part of the linen if necessary and ensure you mitre the corners
GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR BED MAKING cont...
• 7. Soiled linen must be put in a soiled linen container or hamper. Never put it on
the floor or you create a hamper by improvising with two chairs known as
strippers, oppositely placed to each other at the bottom of the bed.

• 8. Do not shake the pillows over the patient’s bed

• 9. Keep the patient covered, maintain her privacy. Never expose him or her to
drought especially a patient with high temperature.
GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR BED MAKING cont...
• 10. Some patients who are nursed in special positions may not be laid flat for bed
making. These patients must be lifted up and down the bed and supported by a
nurse while the bed is being made.

• 11. If the patient is in bed for a longtime, it will be necessary to change the bed
and mattress. Bring a clean bed & mattress with the bottom sheet, draw sheet &
draw mackintosh in place, alongside the patient’s bed.

• 12. Lift the patient on the clean bed; put the bed in the proper position and replace
the top bed clothes.