Occupied Bed Making Purposes | Occupied Bed Making Procedures

What is an Occupied Bed?

An occupied bed is making the bed where the patient physically available in the bed or the bed is being retained for the patient. Soiled linen is infectious to the patient. If a patient is unable to move or leave the bed, you will need to change the bed sheets while the patient is occupied in bed. Occupied bed-making is tough for one person. This is the best bed accomplished by two nurses. Before starting the procedure, make sure all supplies are ready beforehand to streamline the process as much as possible.

Occupied bed making process
Fig: Occupied bed making process

Purpose of Occupied Bed Making:

The main purposes of occupied bed making have listed in the following:

  1. To provide a neat and clean bed.
  2. To refresh the patient who is confined to the bed.
  3. To change the linen with the least possible disturbance to the patient.
  4. To draw or fix the sheets under the patients very firmly so that it would not wrinkle.
  5. To remove crumbs from the bed.
  6. To make the patient feel comfortable.

Equipment of Occupied Bed Making:

The below equipment is very important for occupied bed making:

  1. Bed or cot,
  2. Mattress with cover,
  3. Bedsheet -2,
  4. Pillowcase -1 or 2,
  5. 1 Protective sheet and cotton draw sheet,
  6. Mackintosh-1,
  7. Paper bag,
  8. Chair-1,
  9. Bucket-1.

Procedure of Occupied Bed Making:

All the procedures of occupied bed making have presented the below:

  1. Two nurses must work together when the patent is seriously ill or difficult to manage.
  2. Wash hand before making the occupied bed or occupied bed making.
  3. Gather all equipment at the patient’s bedside and explain the procedure to the patient.
  4. Loosen the tucked linens at the foot part that covers all around the bed.
  5. Remove pillow unless contraindicated.
  6. Place the clean and dry top sheet over the dirty top sheet and then remove the dirty linen one by one.
  7. Leave one cover over the patient and maintain privacy by bedside screening.
  8. Turn the patient on half of the bed on the other side of the bed and keep side rails up.
  9. Place a pillow between the patient and side rails.
  10. Work on the unoccupied side of the bed and roll the draw sheet, mackintosh, and bottom sheet if soiled.
  11. Rolls the soiled linens toward the patient’s back and tucks the roll slightly under the patient.
  12. Covers dirty and moist areas of the soiled linen with a waterproof pad.
  13. Place clean bottom sheet and tuck head part miter corner.
  14. Place draw sheet over the mackintosh on the near side of the mattress, with the center vertical fold at the center of the bed.
  15. Place the patient on the clean side of the bed.
  16. Work on the other side and remove dirty linens.
  17. Make the other side of the bed and spread clean linens.
  18. Tuck the head part of the bottom sheet, miter at the side.
  19. Place the patient in the center of the patient.
  20. Place the pillow and make the patient comfortable.
  21. Spread the top sheet and fold the head part up to the patient’s chest.
  22. Arrange a blanket if necessary.

Points Should Remember During Occupied Bed Making in Hospital:

You must have to remember the below points during occupied bed making in the hospital:

  1. Maintain privacy as situations require.
  2. Carefully turn the patient to prevent over-exertion and feeling insecure.
  3. Carefully observe the patient skin to identify any signs of bedsore.
  4. If the patient wears glasses, ask for removing to prevent broken and injury.
  5. Ensure enough space for the patient to roll without smacking nose on a side rail.
  6. Ensure the patient’s arm on the bed is not in an awkward position when the patient is rolled.
  7. Ensure bed in a flat position and rise to an appropriate working height.
  8. Remove patient’s personal items from bed and disconnect call devices.
  9. Carefully checks that no tubes (such as IVS pole, Foley catheter, oxygen tube, gastric tube, NG tube, drain) are entangled in the bed linens.
  10. Apply diaper when a patient in the side position.
  11. Do not place clean linen on another patient’s bed or furniture.
  12. Keep side rails up when patient turn.
  13. Keep bed sheet smooth and wrinkles free to prevent friction.
  14. Ask the patient to help if the patient can participate.
  15. Place all dirty linens in a laundry bag or hamper without contaminating the uniform.
  16. Never put soiled linen on the floor or the other surfaces.
  17. Return bed in a low and safe position and keep side rails up.
  18. After occupied bed making, attaches call light within the patient’s reach.
  19. Re-position bedside table and over bed table within patient reach.

More articles related to Bed Making:

  1. Types of Bed Making in Nursing | Purpose of Bed Making | Principles of Bed Making
  2. Purpose and Procedure of Postoperative Bed Making
  3. Principles of Closed Bed Making in Nursing | Procedure of Closed Bed in Nursing

19 thoughts on “Occupied Bed Making Purposes | Occupied Bed Making Procedures”

  1. Hi Maria ,
    Loved this post Occupied Bed Making Purposes | Occupied Bed Making Procedures . Sharing it on my Facebook and Pinterest profile.
    Cheers

    1. I want to ask these questions in gait bed
      D patient will place his or her hand on the shoulder of the care giver to stand before d gait bed will be in use on the patient
      What if the patient has issues on his hand or her hands
      What will be the role of the caregiver?,will the caregiver order for xtral caregiver for assistant what is Paramount to this event
      Thank you.

  2. Must. Salma Khatun

    Hi Maria Mona

    Still you are in Bangladesh? I am Must. Salma Khatun, former Deputy Director (Admin) of DGNM, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Why we missed one another? I have just noticed your writings on bed making while I was spending my time on searching something in the net. Wonderful.

    I must go through your texts, because I am totally free from work now. If you wish we can contact and do something for nursing professionals as well as the great creature of Almighty Allah. May Allah bless you.

    Thanks.

    Salma

  3. ABUBAKAR SULEMAN MAMUDA

    Hi Sister Maria
    i’m Sadeeq, and also i’m from Nigeria, but i don’t know weather you heard this country before.
    actually i saw your writing about bed making, i have check many website for me to understand this procedure, but i never understand. but today because of you i understand these procedure. I only wanna say thank you a lot.
    and please if you won’t mind, let’s contact each other for our benefit.
    thank you

  4. Hi Maria Mona
    This post is so amazing and well detailed just as required.
    I feel it has exhausted everything about occupied bed making.
    Congratulations and keep up with the same spirit.

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