Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers

To make an occupied bed, gather the following supplies: a clean top and bottom sheet, pillowcase, mattress pad, blanket, and bath blanket. Place these supplies on a clean surface near the bed.

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First, adjust the bed to a safe working height, as flat as the resident can tolerate, and put on gloves. Loosen the linens at the top of the bed on one side only. For privacy, unfold the bath blanket over the top sheet to fully cover the resident. Pull the top sheet off the bed and place it in a hamper.

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To change the bottom linens, lower the side rail where you are standing and raise the bed rail on the opposite side of the bed. Help the resident turn towards the raised side rail so he/she is lying in a lateral position. Next, loosen the linens and roll them towards the resident. Then, put on the clean linens in this order: mattress pad and bottom sheet. To help prevent bed sores, make sure the sheet is pulled tightly. Raise the side rail and move to the other side of the bed. Lower the side rail on the new side of the bed and repeat the procedure.

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Once all the linens are tucked under the mattress, reposition the resident comfortably in the center of the bed. Put the clean top sheet over the bath blanket, and then remove the bath blanket by pulling it out towards the bottom of the bed. Put it in the hamper, and then place the blanket over the sheet. Tuck the top sheet and blanket under the foot of the mattress. Loosen the top linens over the resident’s feet to prevent possible bed sores.

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Remove the resident’s pillow, and place the pillowcase in the hamper. Take off your gloves and wash your hands. Next, turn the pillowcase inside out and place it over one arm. Grasp the pillow with the covered hand and pull the case down and around the pillow. Finally, place the pillow–with the open end facing away from the door–under the resident’s head.