Making an Unoccupied Bed

The purpose of bed making is to help clients feel comfortable and to reduce the number pathogens in the client’s environment. Clean, dry and wrinkle-free linens also help to reduce the potential for skin breakdown and assist with odour control.

Bed linen is usually changed any time the linens become soiled with blood or other body fluids and after washing the client’s body by either sponge or shower. Standard precautions should be practised and gloves worn if blood and body fluids are encountered in the process of bed making.

Nurses should perform hand hygiene before and after changing the linens and always hold or carry soiled linens away from their uniform.