Health TALK

HOW TO MAKE A BED WITH A PATIENT IN IT

A bed that is comfortable is very important, especially in the case of a long illness or a helpless patient who must be turned and lifted. A bed that is low and wide is not convenient. Bed dimensions that are about 6 1/2 feet long by 3 1/2 feet wide and 2 or 2 1/2 feet high would be most suitable. 

Making a bed properly when a patient is able to sit up or be moved to a cot during the process is a simple task, however, when a patient is bedridden or cannot be easily moved from the bed, bedmaking with the patient in that bed can become complicated. Here is a step by step guide to making the process of bedmaking easier with the patient in it: 

STEP 0NE: Loosen the bedding on all sides 

STEP TWO: Remove all covers and pillows except one blanket and the top sheet, remember to have fresh linen on a nearby chair for ease of access. 

STEP THREE: Roll the patient GENTLY to one side of the bed. 

STEP FOUR: Roll all the soiled linen close to the patient's back 

STEP FIVE: Retrieve the clean bottom sheet from the nearby chair, place sheet in position, first tuck the sheet at the head, smoothly and evenly. 

STEP SIX: Roll the fresh bottom sheet close to under the edge of the soiled bottom sheet.

STEP SEVEN: Unroll the rubber sheet smoothly over the clean bottom sheet, tuck rubber sheet in, then adjust the clean drawsheet ( The drawsheet is a regular sheet that is folded to the required with that would cover the rubber sheet completely. 

STEP EIGHT: Push the clean drawsheet close to the patient's back

STEP EIGHT: Lift the top bed covers slightly

STEP NINE: Roll the patient GENTLY to the clean side of the bed 

STEP TEN: Quickly remove the soiled linen, then draw the fresh linen into place, tuck fresh linen tightly and without wrinkles.

STEP ELEVEN: Place a pillow under the patient's head, then turn the patient back to the middle of the bed.  

STEP TWELVE: To place the top linen, throw a clean sheet over the soiled top sheet and blanket, let the patient hold the clean sheet close up under the chin.

STEP THIRTEEN: Reach under the clean sheet, grasp the soiled top sheet and blanket, then quickly pull both towards the foot of the bed, remove them from bed together. 

STEP FOURTEEN: Replace the covers by spreading each one smoothly, then turn the top sheet down over all the covers, to create a clean chin piece. 

STEP FIFTEEN: The last step is to fluff the pillow before replacing it.