Bed Making Basics in Nursing Practices
1. Topic- Bed Making Prepared by, Teesa Baroi RN,BSN
2. Definition of Bed Making: Bed making is a technique which provides enough area to
the patient on which he can be comfortable and perform his activities of daily living and
also to facilitate therapeutic care. Or, Bed making may be defined as preparing a bed
that is comfortable and suitable for a hospitalized patient.
3. Purposes of closed/Unoccupied Bed: 1. To provide rest, comfort and safety to the
patient. 2. To maintain a clean environment and neat appearance to the unit. 3. To
reduce transmission of microorganisms. 4. To economize time, material and effort. 5. To
promote cleanliness. 6. To observe patient and to prevent complications. 7. To provide
smooth, wrinkle free bed thus minimizing sources of skin irritation.
4. Purposes of an Open/Occupied Bed: 1. To provide comfort for patients whose
physical condition confines them to bed and for patients on imposed bed rest for
therapeutic reasons. 2. To help him have a good relaxed sleep. 3. To give active and
passive exercises to the patient and promote cleanliness.
5. Purposes of an Open/Occupied Bed: 5. To prevent bed sore. 6. To maintain neat
appearance and clean environment. 7. To establish a good nurse patient relationship.
6. Types of Bed: There are two main types of bed: A. Simple bed: a) Closed bed or
unoccupied bed- The bed is ready for a new patient & a bed made without the patient in
the bed. b) Open bed or Occupied bed- A bed made with the patient in the bed & top
linens are folded back.
9. B. Special bed: a) Fowlers bed b) Operation bed or surgical bed c) Cardiac bed d)
Fracture bed or Amputation bed e) Divided bed f) Rheumatic bed g) Renal bed
10. a)Fowlers bed: a position in which the head of the patient's bed is rais ed 30 to
90 degrees above the level, with the knees sometimes also elevated.
11. b) Operation bed: It is made for the post-operative patient after general and
spinal anesthesia.
12. c) Cardiac bed: It is used for patients with heart diseases to provide easy
breathing for the patient with minimum strain.
13. d) Fracture bed: It is used for orthopedic patients. In this, we use a fracture board
under the mattress to provide a firm support for the patient. It will make the patient
more comfortable.
14. e) Divided bed: It is a bed in which top linen is divided into two parts to visualize
the amputed part of the lower limbs without disturbing the patients.
15. f) Rheumatic bed:
16. f) Renal bed: It is used for the renal/kidney disease patients.
17. General/Basic principles of Bed Making: 1. When removing sheets from the bed
lift the mattress while loosening the bed linen, never full sheets with force. 2. Always
fold bed linen from top to bottom. 3. Always arrange bed linen in correct order with
closed side away from you before, making the bed. It should not touch to the floor.
18. General/Basic principles of Bed Making: 4. See there is no draught. 5. Dirty and
clean linen should be kept separate. 6.Dirty linen keep in dirty box. 7. Uniform should
never touch the bed. 8. While tacking bedding under the mattress the palm of the
hands should face down in order to protect our nails.
19. General/Basic principles of Bed Making: 9. Keep the open end of the pillow away
from the entrance of the ward. 10. Soiled linen should not be thrown on the floor, but it
should be kept in dirty linen box. 11.Soiled woolen blankets are to be kept separately
and not with the bed linen. 12. When making an occupied bed try not to cause
discomfort by shaking the bed or moving the patient
20. Procedure of Making Unoccupied/closed Bed: Equipment: 1. Chair/stool/trolly-
hamper. 2. Duster 3. Basin with water/lotion savlon 4. Mattress with cover. 5. Long
mackintosh. 6. Bed sheet-2 7. Pillow with covers-2 8. Draw sheet with mackintosh. 9.
Blankets (if required) 10. Disposable Gloves (optional)
21. Trolly with all articles & Linen bag
22. Long mackintosh:
23. Procedure of Making Unoccupied/closed Bed: 1. Wash hands. 2. Wear
disposable gloves. 3. Assemble and arrange equipment on a bedside table. 4. Adjust the
bed height to a comfortable working position and lower the side rail. 5. Loosen all linen
from head to foot on the side near to you. Move to the other side of bed.
24. Procedure of Making Unoccupied/closed Bed: 6. Discard the soiled linen into
the hamper or bucket. 7. Clean and draw the Mackintosh, roll it and take it off. 8. Take
pillows off, shake and change covers. 9. Discard dirty linen into the hamper or bucket.
10. Clean the long mackintosh, roll and keep it on the chair/trolly. 11.Clean mattress
with a dry duster.
25. Procedure of Making Unoccupied/closed Bed: 12. Clean bed with wet duster. 13.
Replace the long mackintosh on the mattress. 14. Spread bed sheet (bottom) and make
box corners on your side of the bed. 15. Spread and draw mackintosh, draw-sheet and
tuck them on your side. 16. Go to the other side of the bed, make box corner of the
sheet at the head-end and the foot-end of the bed. Tuck draw-mackintosh and draw-
sheet neatly without wrinkles on the side.
26. Procedure of Making Unoccupied/closed Bed: 17.Spread top sheet to the full
length of the mattress. 18. Spread blankets over the top sheet. 19. Tuck at the foot-end
by making corners. 20 Spread bed cover to the full length by making corners. 21. Put
the pillow cover and place the pillow at the head-end, the open end away from the
entrance.
27. Procedure of Making Unoccupied/closed Bed: 22. Fanfold or pie fold top linens.
23. Rearrange furniture and place personal items within easy reach. 24. Adjust the bed
to a comfortable height for the client. 25. Dispose off soiled linen and wash hands.
28. How to make box corner:
29. Procedure of making An Occupied/open bed: Equipment: 1. Linen hamper. 2. Top
sheet, draw sheet, bottom sheet. 3. Blanket. 4. Gloves. Occupied bed: It is a bed from
where the patients cannot be moved out.
30. Procedure of making An Occupied/open bed: 1. Greet the patient and explain the
procedure and identify the clients physical ability. 2. The nurse should wash her hands
& put on gloves. 3. The nurse should collect all the needed articles and bring them to
the bed side. 4. Close door or draw bedside curtain. 5. Adjust the beds height to a
comfortable working position. 6. Place the bed in a flat position if the client can tolerate
it.
31. Procedure of making An Occupied/open bed: 7. Lower the side rail on one side of
bed. 8. Take off the top bed-clothes by folding them one by one and place them an
stool/chair/trolly. 9. Keep the patient covered with one sheet or blanket according to the
weather. 10. Take off pillow from the bed and change it cover, if necessary. 11. Bring
the patient to the edge of the bed, preferably in lateral position. 12. Roll the bottom
linen towards the patient.
32. Procedure of making An Occupied/open bed: 13. Dust the mattress. 14. Spread a
clean bottom sheet over the exposed mattress. Spread draw- mackintosh at the center
of the bed and the draw-sheet, tuck and, make corners. 15. Bring the patient onto the
clean linen and repeat the procedure on the other side. 16. Change pillow cover and
place them in a position.
33. Procedure of making An Occupied/open bed: 17. Raise side rail lower the bed
height to a comfortable position. 18. Dispose of solid linens according to the hospital
policy and wash hands.
34. Points to be Remembered during bed making: 1. Assess the patients pulse,
respiration and blood pressure before ambulating. 2. Any comfort device used by the
patient should be replaced. 3. The patient should be assisted back to bed. 4. The whole
unit of the patient must be made neat and tidy. 5. Used dusters must be disinfected,
washed and dried. 6. If linen is soiled with feces, urine or any other body fluids,
segregate such linen for laundry as per the hospital policy
