Making an Occupied Bed: Introduction (Nursing)

00:04 Hi. Now let's take about making an occupied bed.

00:08 This is going to be particularly important if you just, for example, did a bed bath on a bedbound client, now this is a great time to make an occupied bed, or if the patient has had an incontinent episode, for example, and again, they're not able to walk or ambulate, this is a great skill to help them and get fresh linen underneath that patient.

00:28 Now let's take a look at what we're going to need.

00:31 We're going to need bed linens and also fresh pillow cases.

00:34 Now it's a great idea to have absorbent pads underneath your patient.

00:38 We use these a lot in nursing care because if the patient has an incontinent episode, for example, sometimes this will keep us from changing the whole bed linens.

00:48 Now when we're talking about making an occupied bed, it's a great idea to get assistance.

00:53 So most of the time if you're doing this, it's because the patient can't completely help on their own so it's always great to get another staff member.

01:01 Then if get our help, then we need to perform our hand hygiene and make sure we talk to the patient and let them know what's going to occur.

01:08 Now important to provide privacy here and again, raise the bed rails as needed for client's safety.

01:15 So remember, in preparation, you may not be directly at the bed side so side rails need to be up.

01:22 Now we want to raise the bed to the correct working height.

01:25 Now remember, if you and your partner are going to help change this occupied bed, it needs to be on an agreeable working height for both and your other partner that's going to help you.

01:35 So my height difference and maybe someone else's may be different so we need to make sure we get a proper working height for both of us.

01:42 Now if permitted, if the patient can lower or tolerate the head of the bed down, that makes it much easier to roll the patient, if they can tolerate it.

01:52 Now before we get started make sure that all belongings have been removed from the client's bed.

01:59 This is actually pretty key here. You'd be surprised what you find in there.

02:03 There could be patient's cellphone for example, that happens a lot, maybe their eyeglasses.

02:08 We don't want to start pulling off linens and that get flung on the floor, especially their cellphone for example, get broke.

02:15 Now to get ready to make that occupied bed, let's first change those bed linens.

02:20 So the first thing is to loosen and remove any of the linen as much as possible while maintaining privacy and warmth for the patient.

02:29 Now we want to make sure the client's is in the correct position such as laying on their back really is most convenient.

02:35 Now we want to roll the client to one side, because we're going to start on one side of the bed first, so we want the client to roll.

02:42 Now as you can see in this image, notice those arrows in the blue portion here this is the side that we want to start loosening those linens.

02:52 So we're going to take that bottom sheet and we're going to take off the corners take all those out, and then we're going to apply the new bottom sheet on there and secure the corners here as well.

03:03 So one thing to know, is we're going to take the old stuff.

03:07 We're going to roll it up, tuck it underneath the patient, and again, we're going to go back and put the new sheet on and secure those corners like you see in this image.

03:17 So once we get the new sheet on, we want to place the absorbent pad on top of that, so basically you're going to have the old sheet rolled up tucked underneath the client, then we're going to have the new sheet over the client, the absorbent pad on top and when that's important because we'll need that for when we pull it through later.

03:38 Now we want to make ensure the clean sheet and the absorbent pad are folded together.

03:42 We're going to fold those in and then tuck it underneath the client.

03:46 Okay, so that sounds a little bit weird so let's pause on this.

03:49 So if you take a look at this image, remember, that you're going to take the clean sheet roll with the absorbent pad, tuck it under the roll of dirty stuff that's underneath the client's back.

04:01 Now we're going to have the client roll to the other side, because when we have them roll, we're going to be able to access all that stuff we put in on the other side.

04:11 Now loosen and remove the soiled linens from the bed, so if we tuck that really well from the opposite side, when the client rolls like this, we're going to be able to grab all that pretty freely and get rid of that old linen.

04:23 Now we'll be able to get that clean roll, pull the clean bottom sheet and that absorbent pad taut underneath the patient.

04:31 Now, once this has happened, now we can certainly secure those corners of the fitted sheet and make sure underneath the patient, there's no wrinkles or anything like that and the linens are nice and smooth.

04:43 Now we can reposition the client for comfort and then don't forget their pillow cases, make sure you remove those and change those out.

04:52 Okay, so now let's not forget those top sheets.

04:54 We need to remove the blanket and the top sheet from our patient.

04:58 We want to replace these with clean top sheets and clean blankets over our clients.

05:03 Now, some patients may prefer to secure the corners of those top linens underneath the mattress.

05:10 I don't know about you, sometimes that kind of makes me feel like I'm trapped in.

05:13 Also, that could be actually a tripping hazard for some patients, so make sure you talk to your patient, see if they want those corners tucked or not.

05:23 Now make sure before you leave the room to place the bed in the lowest position and make sure those side rails are up once you leave the bedside.

05:31 Now if the patient can tolerate it, raise the head of the bed as needed, and again, make sure those side rails are up. Don't forget those.

05:39 And any of the soiled linens that we had, make sure you want to remove those from the room and put it in the designated area.

05:46 Now we can remove our gloves, perform our hand hygiene, and document our procedure.