Final answer:
When making an occupied bed, remove the bottom linens by folding them toward the bed's center, rolling the patient carefully away, stripping the linens away, and rolling out fresh linens. Always prioritize safety, comfort, and hygiene.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you are making an occupied bed, it is important to ensure the comfort and safety of the person in the bed throughout the process. To remove the bottom linens, you should follow a step-by-step protocol. Start by loosening the linens around the edges of the bed, then carefully fold the linens toward the center of the bed, creating a narrow strip along the side of the patient. Engage the patient by gently rolling them on their side away from you, or if needed, seek assistance to ensure their stability and safety. After the patient is rolled away, you can tuck this narrow strip under them lightly. Then proceed to remove the soiled linens by rolling them inwards and away from the patient, keeping them contained to avoid spreading any contamination and place them directly into the designated linen collection receptacle.
After the soiled linens are removed, you'll place fresh linens on the exposed side of the bed. Tuck a clean bottom sheet half under the mattress, roll the other half tightly, and place it alongside the patient. Then gently roll the patient over the new roll and onto the clean side, remove the soiled linens on the other side, and finally, unroll the fresh linens, smoothing them out underneath the patient. It's important to handle all movements with care to maintain patient dignity and avoid any discomfort.Following these steps ensures that the process of removing the bottom linens while making an occupied bed is done efficiently, maintaining hygiene patient comfort and safety.