HOSPITAL BEDS

Hospital Beds
• The frame of a hospital bed is divided into three
sections.
• This permits the head and the foot to be elevated
separately.
• Most hospital beds have electric motors to operate the
movable joints.
 Mattresses
• Are usually covered with a water-repellent material that
resists soiling and can be cleaned easily.
• Special mattresses are also used in hospitals to relieve
pressure on the body’s bony prominences, such as the heels.
• They are particularly helpful for individuals confined to bed
for a long time.
 Side Rails/Cot Sides
• Used on both hospital beds and trollies.
 Bed Cradles
• Keep the top bedclothes off the feet, legs and even abdomen
of a patient.
• Are arranged over the device and may be pinned in place.
 Intravenous stands
• Support intravenous (IV) infusion containers while fluid is
being administered to a patient.
MAKING BEDS
Principles to Keep In Mind

• Principle 1: Micro-organisms are found everywhere on the skin, on articles used

by patients and in the environment
• The nurse must take care to prevent the transference of microorganisms from
source to new host by direct or indirect contact or prevent the multiplication of
microorganisms
• Wash hands before and after bed-making to protect client/patient and self from
cross infection
• Keep soiled linen away from clean ones and away from your uniform
• Never shake linen to avoid air current that spread microorganisms
• Damp dusting is recommended- because dry dust raises dust
• Cleaning an areas with less microorganism before cleaning areas with numeru
organisms minimises spread of organisms
Principles to Keep In Mind

• Principle 2: A safe comfortable bed will ensure rest, sleep and prevent several
complications in a bedridden patient e.g. bedsores, foot drop etc.
• The body exerts uneven pressure against the mattress, the pressure is greatest
over bony prominences
• Lumps and creases on the bed can cause bedsores due to friction between the
bed and mattress or wrinkled sheets
• Ensure the bed is smooth and unwrinkled
• A bed made for a patient should allow enough freedom for moving side to
side-the movement stimulate circulation, prevent pressure sores and maintains
muscle tone
• Comfort devises are used to provide additional comfort to patient
Principles to Keep In Mind

• Principle 3: Good body Mechanisms, maintain body alignment and prevent fatigue
• Use safe patient handling procedures and proper body mechanics
• The stability of the body is assured by keeping its centre of gravity over its bas.
When base is wide it ensures that the centre of gravity will fall through its base
• The nearer to the centre of gravity a weight is held, the less is the strain produced
e.g. when opening the linen it should be placed on the edge of the of the bed
rather than holding it above the shoulder level.
• Raise bed to appropriate height before changing/making bed, so you do not bend
or stretch over the mattress
• Body mechanics and safe handling are important when turning or repositioning a
patient in bed
Principles to Keep In Mind

• Principle 4: Systematic ways of functioning saves time, energy and materials

• When patients are confined to bed, organize bed-making activities to conserve
time and energy
• Assemble all articles and arrange them conveniently before starting bed
making
• Finish on one side of the bed before going to the opposite side (if one nurse)
• Principle 5: Patients’ privacy, comfort and safety are all important
• Use side rails to aid positioning and turning
• Keeping call light within patients reach and maintaining the proper bed position
help promote comfort and safety
Principles to Keep In Mind

• Principle 3 Continued:
• When tucking the sheets under the mattress, flexing is done by the
knees and hips.-
• This position shifts the work to the long and strong muscles of the
thigh and keep the back in good alignment.
• This reduces strain on the back
• When placing linen on the bed and tucking them under the mattress
face the direction of the work and move with work rather than twisting
the body and over reaching
Steps of Bed-Making for Nurses

• Hospital beds must be made up in a specific manner.

• Bed-making is one of the fundamental chores that every nurse has to
perform during her career.
• The procedure is very specific, and a nurse must be able to
demonstrate that she can do it correctly to pass the nursing exam.
• Bed-making requirements differ based on whether the bed is occupied,
if the patient is post-operative, and whether the bed is being cleaned
and disinfected following a terminal patient.
 Making beds
• Preparing hospital beds in different ways for specific
purposes.
• Beds are made after the patient receives certain care
and when beds are unoccupied.
• Can make an occupied bed or prepare a bed for a
patient who is having surgery (an anaesthetic, post-
operative or surgical bed).
 1. Unoccupied Bed
• Can be either closed or open.
• Generally the top covers of an open bed are folded
back (thus the term open bed) to make it easier for a
patient to get in.
• Open and closed beds are made the same way, except
that the top sheet, blanket, and bedspread of a closed
bed are drawn up to the top of the bed and under the
pillows.
 Purposes
• To promote the individuals comfort
• To provide a clean neat environment for the patient

Assessment
• Assess the patient’s health status to determine that the person
can safely get out of bed
 Planning; Equipment
• Two flat sheets
• Cloth draw sheet (optional)
• Water repellant draw sheet(draw makintosh)
• One blanket
• One bedspread
 Implementation

• Preparation
• Determine what linens the patient may already have in the room to
avoid stockpiling of unnecessary extra linens.
 Performance
1. Explain to the patient what you are going to do, why
it is necessary and how they can cooperate.
2. Wash hands and observe other appropriate infection
control procedures.
3. Provide for patient privacy.
 Performance..
• 4. Place the fresh linen on the patient’s chair or overbed table; do not
use another patient’s bed.
• This prevents cross-contamination (the movement of micro-organisms
from one patient to another) via soiled linen
5. Assess and assist the patient out of bed.
• Make sure that this is an appropriate and convenient time for the
patient to be out of bed.
• Assist the patient to a comfortable chair
 Performance..
6. Raise the bed to a comfortable working height.
7. Strip the bed
• Apply the bottom sheet and draw sheet.
 Performance..
• 8. Move to the other side and secure the bottom linens
Tuck in the bottom sheet under the head of the mattress, pull
the sheet firmly and mitre the corner of the sheet.
• 9. Apply or complete the top sheet, blanket and spread
Mitre..
 Changing an Occupied Bed
• Procedure used to prepare or change linen on a
patients bed when the patient is in bed
 Purpose
• To promote patients comfort and minimize sources of wrinkle
and skin irritation while conserving his/her energy.
• Indications
• Patients who are too weak to come out of bed
• Patients restricted in bed by traction or other forms of
treatment
 Assessment
• Patient condition and need for special bed appliances
• Whether pt has had a bath and linen is soiled
• The physiological and mental state of the patient
 Planning
• Wash hands and arrange linen
• Ensure there is an assistant
• Ensure the bed is locked
• Explain procedure to the patient
• Ensure patient empties bladder
• Close nearby windows
 Requirements
• A clean trolley
• Two large sheets
• Draw sheet if needed
• One blanket
• One bed cover
• Water proof draw sheet
• Pillow cases
 Implementation
1. Explain to the patient what you are going to do, why it is necessary
and how they can cooperate.
2. Wash hands and observe other appropriate infection control
procedures. Put on disposable gloves if linen is soiled with body fluids.
3. Provide for patient privacy.
4. Remove the top bedding
5. Change the bottom sheet and draw sheet.
• Assist the patient to turn on the side facing away from the side where
the clean linen is.
 Implementation..
6. Fanfold the draw sheet and the bottom sheet at the centre of
the bed (see Figure 13-47), as close to the patient as possible
7. Place the new bottom sheet on the bed, and vertically
fanfold the half to be used on the far side of the bed as close to
the patient as possible
8. Place the clean draw sheet on the bed with the centre fold at
the centre of the bed
9. Assist the patient to roll over toward you onto the clean side
of the bed
 Implementation..
10. Move the pillows to the clean side for the patient’s use.
Raise the side rail before leaving the side of the bed
11. Move the pillows to the clean side for the patient’s use.
Raise the side rail before leaving the side of the bed.
12. Move to the other side of the bed and lower the side rail.
13. Remove the used linen and place it in the portable hamper.
14. Unfold the fan folded bottom sheet from the centre of the
bed.
 Implementation..
15. Facing the side of the bed, use both hands to pull the
bottom sheet so that it is smooth and tuck the excess under the
side of the mattress.
16. Unfold the draw sheet fan folded at the centre of the bed
and pull it tightly with both hands.
17. Reposition the patient in the centre of the bed.
18. Apply or complete the top bedding.
19 . Ensure continued safety of the patient