Purpose

• Safety and medical asepsis are important for bedmaking.
• The surgical bed also is called a recovery bed or post-operative bed. Top linens are folded to transfer the person from a stretcher to the bed.
• Surgical beds are made for persons:
  • Returning to their rooms from surgery. A complete linen change is needed.
  • Who arrive at the agency by ambulance. A complete linen change is needed if the person is a new patient or resident or is returning to the nursing center from the hospital.
  • Who go by stretcher to treatment or therapy areas. A complete linen change is not needed.
  • Using portable tubs. Because of bathing, a complete linen change is needed.

Equipment

Roll cursor over items to see labels. For the purposes of clearly depicting the equipment, a barrier is not shown in this photo. When providing care, a barrier should always be placed on the surface before placing the equipment.

Bedspread

Blanket

Bottom sheet (flat or fitted)

A pillow case for each pillow

Cotton drawsheet

Mattress pad, if needed

Top sheet

Paper towels, as a barrier for clean linens

Gloves

Laundry bag

Delegation

Follow delegation guidelines. Before making a surgical bed, obtain this information from the nurse and care plan:

• What type of bed to make—closed, open, occupied, or surgical
• If you need to use a cotton drawsheet
• If you need to use a waterproof drawsheet, waterproof pad, or incontinence product
• The person’s treatment, therapy, and activity schedule
• If the bed needs to be locked into a certain position

Preparation

• Review the information under Delegation and Safety and Comfort.
• Practice hand hygiene.
• Collect clean linens and other supplies.
• Place linens on a clean surface. Place the paper towels between the clean surface and clean linens if a barrier is required by agency policy.
• Remove the call light.
• Raise the bed for body mechanics.

Safety

• Follow the rules for stretcher safety.
• After the transfer, lower the bed to its lowest position. Lock the bed wheels. Raise or lower the bed rails according to the care plan.
• Raise the bed for body mechanics when making the bed. Have the bed flat. If the bed is locked, unlock it. Then adjust the bed. Return the bed to the correct position when you are done. Then lock the bed.
• Wear gloves to remove linens. Also follow other aspects of Standard Precautions and the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. Linens may contain blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions.

Comfort

This skill does not include comfort content.

Follow-up Care

• Put the clean towels, washcloth, gown or pajamas, and bath blanket in the bedside stand.
• Move furniture away from the bed. Allow room for the stretcher and the staff.
• Do not attach the call light to the bed.
• Complete a safety check of the room.
• Follow agency policy for soiled linens.
• Practice hand hygiene.

Reporting/Recording

This skill does not include reporting and recording content.