Changing an Unoccupied Bed.

Purpose:

 To promote the client’s comfort.

 To provide a clean neat environment for the client.
 To provide a smooth, wrinkle-free bed foundation, thus minimizing sources of the
skin irritation.

Equipment:

 Two flat sheets or one fitted and one flat sheet.

 Cloth drawsheet (optional)
 One blanket.
 One bedspread
 Waterproof drawsheet or waterproof pads (optional)
 Pillowcase(s) for the head pillow(s)
 Plastic laundry bag or portable linen hamper, if available.

Preparation

Determine what linens the client may already have in the room to avoid stockpiling of
unnecessary extra linens.

Procedure: Rationale

1. Explain to the client what you are going to do,

why it is necessary, and how he or she
cooperate.
2. Wash hands and observe other appropriate
infection control procedures.
3. Provide for client privacy.  This prevents cross
4. Place the fresh linen on the client’s chair or contamination (the
overbed table; do not use another client’s bed. movement of
microorganism form one
client to another) via soiled
linen.
5. Asses and assist the client out of bed.
 Make sure that this is an appropriate and
convenient time for the client to be out of
bed.
 Assist the client to a comfortable chair.
6. Strip the bed.
 Check bed lines for any items belonging
to the client, and detach the call bell or
 any drainage tubes from the bed linen.
 Loosen all bedding systematically,  Moving around the bed
starting at the head of the bed on the far systematically prevents
side and moving around the bed up to the stretching and reaching and
head of the bed on the near side. possible muscle strain.
 Remove pillowcases, if soiled, and place
the pillows on the bed side chair near the
foot of the bed.
 Fold reusable linens, such as the  Folding linens saves times
bedspread and top sheet on the bed, into and energy when
fourths. First, fold the linen in half by reapplying the linens on the
bringing the top edge even with the bed.
bottom edge, and then grasp it at the
center of the middle fold and bottom
edges.
 Remove the waterproof pad and discard it
if soiled.
 Roll all soiled linen inside the bottom  These actions are essential
sheet, hold it away from your uniform, to prevent the transmission
and place it directly in the linen hamper. of microorganism to the
nurse and others.
 Grasp the mattress securely, using the
lugs if present, and move the mattress up
to the head of the bed.

7. Apply the bottom sheet and draw sheet.

 Place the folded bottom sheet with its  The top of the sheet needs
center fold on the center of the bed. Make to be well tucked under to
sure the sheet is hem side down for a remain securely in place,
smooth foundation. Spread the sheet out especially when the head of
over the mattress, and allow a sufficient the bed is elevated.
amount of sheet at the top to tuck under
the mattress.
 Place sheet along the edge of the
mattress at the foot of the bed and do not
tuck it in (unless it is contour or fitted
sheet.
 Miter the sheet at the top corner on the
near side and tuck the sheet under the
mattress, working from the head of the
bed to the foot.
 If waterproof drawsheet is used, place it
over the bottom sheet so that the
centerfold is at the centerline of the bed
and the top and bottom edges extend
from the middle of the client’s back to the
 area of the midthigh or knee. Fanfold the
uppermost half of the folded drawsheet at
the center or far edge of the bed and tuck
in the near edge.
 Lay the cloth drawsheet over the
waterproof sheet in the same manner.
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
miter the corner of the sheet.
 Pull the remainder of the sheet firmly so  Wrinkles can cause
that there are no wrinkles. discomfort for the client.
 Complete this same process for the
drawsheet.
9. Apply or complete the top sheet, blanket, and
spread.
 Place the top sheet, hemside up, on the
bed so that its centerfold is at the center
of the bed and the top edge is even with
the top edge of the mattress.
 Make a vertical or a horizontal toe pleat in
the sheet to provide additional room for
the client’s feet.
 Follow the same procedure for the
blanket and the spread, but place the top
edges about 15cm from the head of the
bed to allow a cuff of sheet to be folded
over them.
 Tuck in the sheet, blanket, and spread at
the foot of the bed and miter the corner,
using all three layers of linen. Leave the
sides of the top sheet, blanket, and
spread hanging freely unless toe pleats
were provided.
 The cuff of sheet makes it
 Fold the top of the top sheet down over
easier for the client to pull
the spread, providing a cuff.
the covers up.
 Move to the other side of the bed and
secure the top bedding in the same
manner.

10. Put clean pillowcases on the pillows as required.

 Grasp the closed end of the pillowcase at
the center with one hand.
 Gather up the sides of the pillowcase and
 place and place them over the hand
grasping the case. Then grasp the center
of one short side of the pillow through the
pillowcase.
 With the free hand, pull the pillowcase
over the pillow.
 Adjust the pillowcase so that the pillow  A smoothly fitting
fits into the corners of the case and the pillowcase is more
seams are straight. comfortable than a wrinkled
 Place the pillows appropriately at the one.
head of the bed.
11. Provide for client comfort and safety.
 Attach the signal cord so that the client
can conveniently use it. Some cords have
clamps that attach to the sheet or
pillowcase. Others are attached by a
safety pin.
 If the bed is currently being used by a  This makes it easier for the
client, either fold back the top covers at client get into the bed.
one side or fan fold them down to the
center of the bed.
 Place the bedside table and the overbed
table so that they are available to the
client.
 Leave the bed in the high position if the
client is returning by stretcher, or place in
the low position if the client is returning to
the being up.
12. Documentation and report pertinent data.
 Bed-making is not normally recorded.
 Record any nursing assessments such as
the client’s physical status and pulse rate
and respiratory rates before and after
being out of the bed; as indicated.