Bed making is a nursing skill that helps in patient comfort, safety, hygiene, and recovery. Proper bed making not only improves the patient’s physical well-being but also reflects the quality of nursing care provided in a healthcare setting.
This comprehensive guide explains bed making in nursing, including objectives, principles, types of hospital beds, procedures, and special beds used for different patient conditions.
Table of Contents
What Is Bed Making in Nursing
Bed making is an essential nursing skill which involves preparing and arranging a patient’s bed to provide comfort, safety, and infection prevention.
Patients may spend many hours or days in bed, making correct bed preparation essential for promoting rest, preventing complications, and maintaining ward cleanliness.
The Hospital Bed Explained
A hospital bed is a bed used in the hospital, specially designed to meet both patient and nursing needs.hospital beds are adjustable, mobile, and adaptable to various clinical conditions.
Main Parts of a Hospital Bed
- A bed frame (bedstead) it protect the patient from falling from the bed.
- The adjustable backrest it support the patient when sitting on the bed.
- The brake system it prevent the bed from moving, keeping the bed in one position.
- Wire springs hold and support the mattress in place
- Four wheels for rolling the bed
- A trapeze or a lifting pole it support the patient in case of exercise, getting off the bed
- A mattress with a waterproof cover provides a soft place for the patient for comfort
- Spring cover it protect the mattress
- Mackintosh to protect the bed.
- Sheets, blankets, pillows, and a bed cover to cover the bed to look neat and provide comfort to the patient
Importance of Bed Making
Bed making is not just a routine task; it is a key element of holistic nursing care. Proper bed making:
- Enhances patient comfort
- Enhances patient rest
- Reduces the risk of infection
- Promotes good posture
- Promotes good positioning for the patient
- Maintains ward cleanliness and order
- prevent pressure sores and pressure ulcers
- Reflects professional nursing standards
Aims and Purposes of Bed Making
The main goals of bed making include:
- Providing a comfortable and safe resting environment
- Maintaining a clean and tidy ward
- Ensuring bed hygiene
- Supporting correct patient positioning according to the condition
- Preventing complaints related to poor nursing care
- Promoting high standards of nursing practice
Principles and Rules of Bed Making
To ensure safety and infection control, the following principles must be observed:
- Assemble all equipment before starting(set the trolley) and bring it to the bedside.
- Two nurses do the procedure i.e its the procedure for two nurses
- Perform hand hygiene(wash hands) before and after the procedure.
- An apron or a gown must be worn
- Provide privacy using screens
- Remove jewellery
- Avoid conversation during the procedure
- Prevent linen from touching the floor
- Never shake bed linen
- Use separate linen for each patient
- Protect the patient from cold and drafts
- Make beds in an organised and systematic manner
- Bed making should be done before the doctors’ round or any other procedure.
- Avoid unwanted movement while making the bed
- soiled linen must be separated for disinfecting before washing.
- Dirty linen are put in the dirty linen container.
Hospital Beds, appliances, and bed accessories used in Nursing Practice
Hospital bed appliances, also known as bed accessories, play a critical role when caring for the patient as a nurse. The devices are used alongside the hospital bed to improve patient comfort, maintain correct positioning, prevent complications, and assist nurses in providing safe and effective care.
Common Hospital Bed Appliances Used in Nursing Practice
Below are the most commonly used bed appliances in hospitals and healthcare facilities
Mackintosh or a plastic sheet.
is a waterproof sheet placed under linen. long markintosh protect the mattress while the draw markintosh protect the bottom sheets.Other small Mackintosh protect the bed from saliva after operation, protect the pillow, protect the patient’s sheet, clothings during the nursing procedure.
back rest
is a wooden, plastic or metallic adjustable support put at the head of the bed to support the back of the patient. It helps the patient to sit upright, such as in difficulty in breathing, a patient with a cardiac problem, can also be used to support a patient in semi upright positions.
fracture board
These are firm boards placed under the mattress to restrict movement. This prevents reduced pain and maintains the alignment of the bones.
rapes or lifting a pole
is a triangle handle suspended above the bed or a firm fixed pole at the head of the bed. It helps the patient to lift off from the bed, and when changing positions, it promote indipence, it easy nursing procedure like changing the bed sheets.it can also be called monkey pole
hot water bottle
it is a rubber boot which is filled with hot water. It provides additional warmth to the patient,it relieves pain, it also relieves urine retention
bed cradle
bed cradle is a metal or plastic frame positioned over the patient to lift the weight of the linen from the patient, protect the wound from being irritated by linens, e.g., burn wound, and prevent pressure on sensitive parts of the body, like skin.
bed block
it is a wooden or metallic block placed at the head or bottom of the bed to elevate the bed to increase blood flow to vital organ or decrease intracranial pressure.
air ring.
is a rubber ring put at the bony prominences to reduce pressure and prevent friction, this prevent injary and pressure sores.
foot rest
it prevent the foot from dropping
cardiac table
it is a table used by patients while in bed. It helps the patient to eat, read, use a laptop and change position while in bed.it is also called a bed table or heart table
side rails
is a protective barrier attached to the side of the bed to prevent the patient from falling from the bed in condition like epilepsy, a restless patient, a disoriented patient, patient convulsing.
sand bag
This is a abag filled with sund it prevents and restrict the jerking of the amputated limb.
pillows
Pillows provide comfort and propping up a patient in bed.it relief pain, easy breathing.
Bell or Call System
A patient bell allows communication with nurses. Enables patients to request assistance. Promotes safety and reassurance
Types of Hospital Beds in Nursing Practice
Different patient conditions require different types of beds. Below are the most common hospital beds used in nursing care.