Bedmaking

Course
Health Science
Unit XI
Occupationally
Specific
Knowledge and
Skills
Essential
Question
How does
making a proper
bed help prevent
injury to the
patient?
TEKS
130.204 (c) 8I
Prior Student
Learning
An
understanding of
Safety and Body
Mechanics and
Equipment
Safety

Rationale
A skill performed on a daily basis by nursing assistants is that of making
beds.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, the student will be able to:
demonstrate guidelines to make an unoccupied and occupied bed
according to the guidelines from the Texas Department of Human
Services Nurse Aide Curriculum; and
evaluate a peer using skills check.
Engage
Why is it important to make the clients / residents bed properly?
The bed is one of the most important parts of the clients/residents room,
and probably one of the most used pieces of furniture in the facility. Having
a clean, well made bed actually serves several beneficial functions. First, it
helps to make the resident feel comfortable and safe in the facility. Sleeping
in a wrinkled bed can make the clients/residents feel that the staff does not
care. It can also lead to feelings of helplessness and insecurity.
A clean, wrinkle-free bed also helps to keep the client/residents skin intact.
If the resident is laying on wrinkles or bunched-up linens, an area of
pressure may be created. This could lead to skin breakdown and decubitus
ulcers (bed sores). Lastly, if linens become soiled with urine or feces and
are not promptly changed, infection could occur.
Show video on bedmaking.
Demonstrate procedure.

Estimated time
9 Hours

Key Points
I.
Types of beds
A. Gatch bed: A hospital bed that can be manually raised and lowered
by turning cranks located at the bottom of the bed.
B. Electric bed: Similar to the gatch bed, but is operated electrically and
can be managed by most patients/residents.
C. Clinitron: This is a bed available for the treatment of patients with
multiple or advanced pressure ulcers, grafts, burns, and intractable
pain.
1. Bed supports the body evenly
2. Filled with a sand-like material

II.

III.

IV.

V.

3. Warm, dry air circulates through the material to maintain even

temperature and support the body evenly
D. There are other beds available for patient use, but these are
encountered most often.
E. If ever a bed is encountered that is unfamiliar, always ask for
assistance. THAT IS THE SAFEST BEHAVIOR PATIENTS
SAFETY IS FOREMOST IN CARE!
Purpose of making a neat, clean bed
A. Helps make residents comfortable.
B. By keeping beds clean, dry, and wrinkle-free, making a neat, clean
bed prevents skin breakdown and decubitus ulcers.
Frequency of changing bed linens
A. Linens are changed as needed.
B. Usually a full change of linens occurs on bath/shower days for
residents/patients.
Types of beds
A. Closed beds one with the linens pulled to the top of the bed.
1. The resident will not use the bed during the day
2. The bed is ready for a new resident
B. Open bed one where the linens are folded back so the resident can
climb into the bed during the day as needed.
1. Top linens are folded back
2. The resident uses this bed throughout the day.
C. Occupied bed a bed made with the resident in the bed. Toe pleats
can be placed on occupied beds to reduce the pressure on the
patients toes.
D. Unoccupied bed a bed made without the resident in the bed.
E. Surgical bed made so the resident/patient can be moved from a
stretcher to the bed without having to struggle with linens.
1. The bed is left at stretcher height
2. The sheets are folded away from the side where the patient will
enter.
3. Sometimes the pillow is placed on the nightstand by the bed until
the patient is safely in the bed.
4. This procedure differs from one facility to another.
Rules for handling linens
A. Follow the rules of medical asepsis
1. Wear gloves when handling soiled linen
2. Wash hands before handling clean linen
3. Because the uniform is considered to be dirty, the clean linens
should never touch the uniform, but held away from the body.
4. Never shake linens since this causes the spread of
microorganisms.
5. Clean linens are placed on clean surfaces.
6. Dirty linens are never placed on the floor. Place soiled linen in
the proper receptacle.

B. Clean linens are collected in the order that they will be used
1. mattress pad
2. bottom sheet
3. drawsheet
4. bed protector
5. top sheet
6. blanket
7. bedspread
8. pillowcase(s)
C. Place linens on the bed with the hem edges away from the patient.
D. Any linen brought into a resident/patients room must stay there
because it is considered to be contaminated.
E. Other linens can be collected when collecting the bed linens, i.e.
towels, washcloths, gowns, bath blanket.
F. When removing dirty linens roll them away from you. The side of the
linen that touched the resident is rolled inside.
G. Linen should always be stored in an enclosed linen cart. It should
never be left uncovered on a cart in the hallway.
H. Never apply the pillowcase by securing the pillow under the chin and
sliding the pillow into the case.
VI.
General rules for making the bed
A. Use good body mechanics
B. Follow rules of medical asepsis standard precautions
C. Linens must be tight and wrinkle free
D. Make as much of one side of the bed as possible before going to the
other side. This saves time and energy.
E. A common element in all bedmaking is leaving the unit neat and tidy.
Activity
I. Practice Making the Occupied Bed and Unoccupied Bed utilizing
Skill Checklists. (The students may form groups of four and practice
the skills of making occupied and unoccupied beds. Prior to testing
with the instructor, the students will perform Check 1 peer evaluation.)
II. Test with the instructor making the Occupied and Unoccupied Bed.
III. Complete the Medical Terminology Review.
Assessment
Successful completion of Check 2 for Making the Bed and Making the
Occupied Bed.
Instructors Note: When testing the students, it is possible to test six students at
one time. Use three beds; one student is the bed-maker, one is the
resident/patient. Making beds is one skill where adequate testing can be done
while observing more than one student at a time.)
Successful completion of all assignments related to bedmaking.

Materials
Hospital Beds
Fitted bottom sheets (optional)
Flat sheets
Drawsheets
Blankets
Bedspreads
Pillowcases
Gloves
Linen Cart
Soiled linen receptacle
Skill Checklists: Making the Bed, Making the Occupied Bed
Sorrentino, Sheila A. Mosbys Textbook for Nursing Assistants, 6th edition.
St. Louis, Mosby Year Book, 1999.
Texas Department of Human Services Nurse Aide Curriculum
Student Journals
Internet access
http://www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/NF/credentialing/NATCEP/cna.pdf
(Click on Nurse Aide Curriculum)

Accommodations for Learning Differences

For reinforcement, the students outline and practice making the occupied
and unoccupied bed.
For enrichment the students will write a 2-3 page journal entry after reading
the material from www.decubitus.org/ on incidence, cost, and Medicares
impressions of decubitus ulcer formation and treatment.

National and State Education Standards

National Health Science Cluster Standards
HLC 10.01 Technical Skills
Healthcare workers will apply technical skills required for all career
specialties. They will demonstrate skills and knowledge as appropriate.
TEKS
130.204(c)(8)(I) perform skills specific to a health science professional such
as medical assistant, dental assistant, emergency medical technician-basic,
phlebotomy technician, and pharmacy technician.

Texas College and Career Readiness Standards

English Language Arts
II. B. Understand new vocabulary and concepts and use them accurately in
reading writing and speaking.
III. B. Develop effective speaking styles for both group and one on one
situations.
IV. A. Apply listening skills as an individual and as a member of a group in a
variety of settings.

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY REVIEW

Using Tabers Medical Dictionary, define the following terms and abbreviations and place each
on a flash card. Drill the cards, then do the worksheet TERM DEFINITION.
Qid

Cutane/o

tid

Derm/o

bid

Dermat/o

BR

Sub-

CBR

Intra-

HOB

-itis

OOB

-osis

CHUX

Epi-

ac

-ology

pc
_
p

-ologist

_
s

incontinence

continence

void
_
c
_
q

micturate
defecate
feces

BM

intact

Organ/o

Skin Integrity

Micro-

Perfusion

Hypo-

Decubitus

TERM DEFINITION
For each of the following, use the knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, and root words/combining
forms, and write a definition. Make sure that this is your definition and not one taken out of a
book. Make it short and one that YOU UNDERSTAND.
Dermatology
Dermatitis
Dermatosis
Subcutaneous
Epidermis
Microorganism
Dermatologist
Hypodermic
Intradermal

Above each of the underlined words, write the meaning of the word or definition.
Hypodermic injections are given subcutaneously. If they are given incorrectly, they can
Cause a dermatitis or dermatosis. The frequency of administering hypodermics varies.
_
Sometimes they are given qd or bid. Sometimes they are given more frequently. If
someone is to be tested for tuberculosis, they are given an intradermal injection.

_
Some antibiotics are given qd, bid, tid, or qid. Because each medication is unique,
_
_
_
Some are to be taken c meals, and some s Some are to be taken ac, and some
_
pc.

Mr. Jones had surgery today. He is to remain on CBR until 8 p.m. After that, he is on
_
BR c BRP. Tomorrow he is to be OOB. Should Mr. Jones be incontinent,

He is to have his bed changed immediately. This is to maintain skin integrity,

and keep his skin intact, preventing the formation of decubitus ulcers.

NURSE AIDE SKILLS EXAM

MAKING THE BED/Procedural Guideline #17**
(Adapted from the Texas Department of Human Resources Nurse Aide Curriculum
**NOTE: If students do not complete Check 1, peer evaluation, they will receive a 0 for the
Check 2 Skill Test. The initials of the peer performing the check must appear above the Check
1 column.
POSSIBLE
POINTS

CHECK 1

CHECK 2

1. Properly cleans hands before procedure (10-15 seconds) ________

a. wet
b. apply soap
c. time
d. rinse
e. drying and turning off faucet

________

2. Assembles appropriate equipment (linen) and places

in order to be used. Handles linen correctly. (Away from
uniform and placing on a clean surface.)

________

________

mattress pad
bottom sheet
drawsheet
bed protector
top sheet
blanket
bedspread
pillowcase(s)

3. Begins with bed in flat position and elevated to

appropriate height if possible.

________

________

4. REMOVES SOILED LINEN AND PLACES IT IN

________
APPROPRIATE PLACE.
a. Wears gloves
b. Rolls linen away
c. Places in receptacle or chair or other
surface than the floor.

________

5. Avoids shaking and touching linens to uniform as

much as possible.

________

________

6. Applies bottom sheet to clean mattress(making only half of the bed)

a. keeps straight and centered

b. hems are placed away from
patient
c. Tucks top (or top fitted)
d. Miters corner at top (or bottom
fitted)
e. Drawsheet in correct position
and tucked
4

________

________

________
________
________

________
________
________

________

________

7. APPLIES TOP LINEN (again making only half of the bed)

a. Top sheet
________
b. Bedspread
________
c. Tucks bottom
________
d. Miters corner on bottom
________

________
________
________
________

8. MAKES REMAINDER OF BED. MAKES ALL CLEAN BOTTOM LINEN

TIGHT AND FREE OF WRINKLES (UNLESS WATER BED, EGG CRATE
OR AIR MATTRESS.)
a. applies remainder of bottom
sheet at top of bed
________
________
b. applies remainder of bottom
sheet (miters corners or places fitted________
________
c. tighten bottom sheet and draw
sheet (worth 2 points)
________
________
d. tucks top sheet and bedspread ________
________
(worth 2 points)
e. miters corner of top covers
________
________
9. Applies clean pillowcase leaving zippers and
or tags to inside of pillowcase.
Places on bed, away from the doorway.

________

10. Leaves bed completely and neatly made according to

facility policy. Lowers bed to the lowest level.
________
Places call light on bed. Leaves patient unit area neat
and clean, With wheels of bed locked.

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 39

TOTAL POINTS EARNED: ________

________

________

NURSE AIDE SKILLS EXAM

MAKING THE OCCUPIED BED/Procedural Guideline #18**
Adapted from the Texas Department of Human Services Nurse Aide Curriculum.
**NOTE: If students do not complete Check 1, peer evaluation, they will receive a 0 for the
Check 2 Skill Test. The initials of the peer performing the check must appear above the Check
1 column.
Note to Nurse Examiner: Select only residents who need side rail or simulate situation for
demonstration of this skill.
POSSIBLE
POINTS
CHECK 1
4
1. Properly cleans hands before procedure (10-15 seconds) ________
f. wet
g. apply soap
h. time
i. rinse
j. drying and turning off faucet

CHECK 2
________

2. Identifies residents, explains procedure

________
to resident and encourages resident to
participate as appropriate.

________

3. Assembles appropriate equipment (linen) and places

________
in order to be used. Handles linen correctly. (Away from
uniform and placing on a clean surface.)

________

mattress pad
bottom sheet
drawsheet
bed protector
top sheet
blanket
bedspread
pillowcase(s)

4. Provides for residents privacy as appropriate

________
a. closes curtains
b. removes bedspread and blanket
c. covers with sheet/bath blanket
d. removes soiled top sheet.

________

2
2
4

5. INSURES RESIDENTS SAFETY.

________
a. side rails up, never turning
back on resident.
b. wheels locked
c. moves resident so when turning
does not fall into the side rail
d. wears gloves at appropriate times
6. Begins with bed in flat position, if
tolerated by resident, and elevated
appropriate height if possible.

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

10. RAISES THE OPPOSITE SIDE RAIL

AND ASSISTS THE RESIDENT TO
ROLL OVER THE BOTTOM LINEN,
PREVENTING TRAUMA AND
AVOIDABLE PAIN TO RESIDENT

________

________

11. REMOVES SOILED LINEN AND

PLACES IN APPROPRIATE PLACE.

________

________

12. Avoids shaking and touching linen

to uniform as much as possible.

________

________

13. MAKES ALL CLEAN BOTTOM

LINEN TIGHT AND FREE OF WRINKLES
(UNLESS WATER BED, EGG CRATE,
OR AIR MATTRESS).

________

________

________

________

7. RAISES SIDE RAIL AND ASSISTS

RESIDENT TO ROLL ON SIDE FACING
SIDE RAIL.
8. Rolls or fanfolds soiled linen, soiled
side inside, to the center of the bed.
9. Places clean bottom sheet along the
center of the bed and rolls or fanfolds
linen against residents back and unfolds
remaining half.

14. APPLIES UNSOILED TOP LINEN

a. places top sheet and removes
bath blanket or other sheet.

b. places blanket and bedspread

c. Tucks half of bottom, mitering
corner (2 points)
d. Tucks remaining half of bottom,
mitering corner (2 points)
3

15. Applies clean pillowcase leaving zippers and

or tags to inside of pillowcase. Places on bed,
away from the doorway.

________

________

16. Leaves bed completely and neatly made

according to facility policy. Lowers bed to the
lowest level. Places call light bed. Leaves
patient unit area neat on and clean, With
wheels of bed locked.

________

________

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 51

TOTAL POINTS EARNED: ________