The Resident’s Environment
Make your patient’s
comfortable!
A little funny…
Resident Comfort
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Affected by age, illness, and degree of
activity
Watch for symptoms of sleep deprivation
Important to control lighting, ventilation,
odors, noise based on resident’s needs
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How can we do this???
Temps controlled between 71o and 81o per
OBRA
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Protect from drafts-blankets, clothing, wraps
Resident Comfort
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Lighting
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Noise Control
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light control in reach of resident so residents
can choose how much light they want
keep noise to a minimum because some are
very sensitive to noise
Odor Control
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Remove soiled items, clean bedpans and
urinals, use deodorizers as needed
Bedmaking
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What does a well made bed offer your
patient?
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Comfort
Safety
This is part of their home while they are in
the hospital or health care facility
Types of Beds
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Gatch bed
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Bed height and
head/foot can be
adjusted by turning
crank.
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Electric bed
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Bed height and
head/foot can be
adjusted by electric
controls.
Types of Beds
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Low bed
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Used for patients with fall
risks and those for whom
use of side rails are not
advised
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Air-Loss bed
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Used for those who have
pressure ulcers or are at
risk
Turning of patients using
a low air loss bed still
must be turned every 2
hours
CPR is not effective in
this type of bed unless
the air pillow switch is
activated
Types of Beds
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CircOlectric Bed
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Spinal injury patients and
those with severe burns
use these beds
After rotation, the patient
is on the abdomen
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Stryker Frame
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Similar in function to the
CircOlectric bed but is
manually operated
Used for patients with
severe burns or spinal
injuries
Safety Alert
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You must be trained in order to use specialty beds
Always find out the proper operating procedure
before attempting to operate any bed
Two or more staff members must be present when
these beds are used
Patients must be turned in the direction of the narrow
wedge to reduce the risk of falls
Make sure all straps are secure and the frame is
locked
Sections may be removed for patient elimination but
remember to always replace them
Bedmaking and Bed Linens
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Bed linen is routinely changed when soiled
but also
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Daily in an acute care facility (hospital)
Two or three times a week (or every other day) in
LTCF’s
Guidelines for handling linens and
making the bed…
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Always wash hands and use gloves if linen is
soiled
Linen carts must be covered
Take only the linens you need to change the
bed
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Unused linen is never returned to the linen cart
Avoid contact between the linens and your
uniform
Fold or roll soiled linen toward the center
when removing it from the bed
Guidelines for handling linens and
making the bed…
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Soiled linen may be placed into a plastic bag
or pillowcase and then placed into the soiled
linen hamper
Never shake bed linens, microbes may be
released into the air
Never place soiled linen on environmental
surfaces is in the room
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Overbed tables, floors, chairs, etc
Guidelines for handling linens and
making the bed…
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Use proper body mechanics when making
the bed to prevent back injury
Work on one side of the bed at a time to save
time
Make sure bottom linen are wrinkle free to
prevent skin breakdown
Follow the patient’s care plan regarding
positioning of the head and foot of the bed,
the number of pillows used and the use of
pillows for positioning
OSHA and Safety Alerts
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Preventing back injuries is one of the most
important things you can do.
Raise the bed to a working height
Watch for sharp items or resident belongings
in linen
Never turn your back on the patient or leave
the bedside when the bed is in the high
position and the side rail is down
Infection Control Alert
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Always wear gloves when handling wet or soiled
linen
Soiled linen must be placed in a linen hamper or
plastic bag
Avoid contaminating environmental surfaces with
soiled gloves
Disinfect the mattress if needed
Discard gloves and wash hands
Report any cracks in mattresses at once
It is not necessary to wear gloves when handling
clean linen
Types of Bedmaking Styles
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Occupied Bed
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Made with the
patient in the bed
Bedbound patients
receive their baths in
the bed and this
bedbath is done
before the bed
change
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Unoccupied bed
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Made with the
patient out of the
bed
Is fanfolded halfway
down for ease of
entry
Types of Bedmaking Styles
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Open bed
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“Welcoming” bed
style
For the new patient
In LTCF’s the bed is
not made “open”
unless the resident
is going to bed soon
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Closed bed
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Made following
discharge of a
patient and after the
room has been
cleaned
Remains closed until
a new patient is
admitted
Types of Bedmaking Styles
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Surgical bed
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Used for patient returning from surgery or to be
admitted from stretcher
Linen is fanfolded to the side of the bed
Raise bed to stretcher height
Place all needed equipment (vitals equip, emesis
basin, tissues) next to the bed
Procedures
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Occupied Bed
Unoccupied Bed
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If you can make an occupied bed, an
unoccupied bed change will be easy
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Opening a Closed Bed
Making a Surgical Bed
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Admission
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“Open” the bed
Determine how your patient will arrive
Determine what you will need
Greet resident and family (family may be
asked to go to waiting room while you
prepare resident
Provide privacy
Admission
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Assist patient to change clothes if needed
Obtain assessments:
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Orient to unit
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Vital Signs, Ht and Wt
Skin assessments
Belongings inventory
Call bell, bed controls, bathroom features, TV,
visiting hours, mealtime routines
Assist in unpacking/storing items if needed
Transfers
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Check with the nurse for instructions
Verify that the receiving unit is ready for the
resident
Gather all personal belongings and
equipment that is to be transferred with the
resident
Follow facility procedure for handling
valuables
Transfers
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Transfer resident via ______ according to
instructions from the nurse, ensure resident
safety
Ensure resident knows how to use call bell,
bed before leaving in new location
Document according to facility protocol,
Make sure all personal belongings and
valuables are transferred
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Check inventory with receiving healthcare worker
Discharge
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Check with the nurse for instructions
Gather all personal belongings and equipment that is
to be sent home with the patient
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Follow facility procedure for handling valuables
Make sure all belongings and valuables are sent with
patient upon discharge and not left in room
Transfer patient via ______ according to instructions
from the nurse, ensure resident safety
Document according to facility protocol