Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

General Nursing (RGN)

Making a Patient's Bed

Preparation of a clean, safe and comfortable patient bed according to the patient's condition and mobility.

Purpose

  • Provide comfort and cleanliness.
  • Promote patient safety.
  • Maintain a clean patient environment.
  • Reduce risk of infection and skin problems.

Indications

  • Routine bed making.
  • Changing soiled linen.
  • Preparing a bed for a new patient.
  • Maintaining patient comfort.

Equipment

  • Clean bed linen
  • Pillowcases
  • Protective sheet where required
  • Laundry bag
  • Gloves where indicated

Procedure steps

  • Explain the procedure to the patient.
  • Perform hand hygiene.
  • Provide privacy.
  • Position the patient safely.
  • Remove used linen carefully.
  • Place soiled linen in the appropriate receptacle.
  • Clean and arrange the bed as required.
  • Apply clean linen without unnecessary shaking.
  • Ensure the bed is safe and comfortable.
  • Perform hand hygiene and document relevant care.

Precautions

  • Avoid shaking used linen.
  • Maintain patient privacy.
  • Use safe patient-handling techniques.
  • Keep clean linen away from contaminated surfaces.
  • Ensure the bed is safe before leaving the patient.

Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.

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