Bed Making in Nursing: Types and Procedure | NPrep

Bed making in nursing is the preparation of a patient's bed so it is clean, safe and comfortable, and suited to the patient's condition. The main types are the closed bed, open bed, occupied bed and post-operative bed, with special beds for cardiac, fracture, amputation and burns patients. It is one of the first procedures in Fundamentals of Nursing.

Updated 11 November 2026. Types, principles and steps follow standard Fundamentals of Nursing textbooks taught in B.Sc and GNM. Follow your hospital's procedure manual for a real patient.

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Bed making at a glance

Type of bed	When it is used
Closed (unoccupied) bed	An empty bed made ready for a new admission; top sheets cover the pillow
Open bed	A bed ready for a patient who is about to get into it; top sheets folded back
Occupied bed	Making the bed while the patient stays in it, for patients who cannot get up
Post-operative (surgical) bed	A warm bed ready for a patient returning from surgery, top linen fanfolded to one side
Cardiac bed	For breathless heart patients, propped up to support sitting
Fracture bed	A firm bed, often with a board under the mattress
Amputation bed	Top linen arranged so the stump can be seen and checked
Burn bed	Sterile or clean linen and a bed cradle to keep linen off the burns

What are the principles of bed making?

• Hand hygiene before and after, and between patients.
• Never shake linen, because it spreads organisms and dust in the air.
• Keep linen away from your uniform, and put used linen straight into the linen bag, never on the floor.
• Work from top to bottom and from clean to dirty.
• Use good body mechanics: raise the bed to working height, bend your knees, and finish one side before moving to the other to save steps.
• Make the bottom sheet tight and wrinkle-free, because wrinkles press on the skin and add to pressure ulcer risk.
• Use mitred corners so the sheets stay in place.
• Respect privacy and safety: screen the patient, and keep side rails up for patients at risk of falling.

What is the procedure for making an occupied bed?

1. Explain the procedure to the patient, screen the bed and perform hand hygiene.
2. Collect the linen in the order you will use it and place it on a clean chair.
3. Raise the bed to working height and lower the head end if the patient's condition allows.
4. Loosen the linen all round and remove the top linen, leaving a sheet or blanket over the patient for privacy.
5. Turn the patient to the far side, towards the side rail or a second nurse.
6. Roll the used bottom sheet and draw sheet towards the patient's back.
7. Place the clean bottom sheet on the near half, tuck it in with a mitred corner, and roll the rest towards the patient.
8. Add the mackintosh and draw sheet if needed, tucked tightly.
9. Help the patient roll over the rolled linen to the clean side.
10. On the far side, remove the used linen into the linen bag, then pull through and tuck the clean linen tightly.
11. Position the patient comfortably, add the top sheet and blanket, and change the pillowcase.
12. Lower the bed, raise side rails if needed, place the call bell within reach, and perform hand hygiene.

What is a mitred corner?

A mitred corner is a neat, triangular fold at the corner of a sheet that holds it firmly under the mattress. Tuck the sheet in at the end of the bed, lift the side edge up into a triangle, tuck the hanging part under the mattress, then bring the triangle down and tuck it in. It keeps the bottom sheet tight and wrinkle-free.

What is a post-operative bed?

A bed prepared for a patient returning from surgery. The top linen is fanfolded to one side, away from the door, so the patient can be moved across from the trolley easily. It is often warmed, and has a mackintosh and draw sheet to protect the bed from drainage or vomit. Keep the equipment the patient may need nearby, such as oxygen, suction, a kidney tray and a vital signs tray, as your hospital's protocol requires.

How is bed making asked in exams?

It is asked in practical exams and vivas, and in Fundamentals of Nursing MCQs. These are NPrep practice questions in the exam style, not questions from a past paper.

Which bed is prepared for a patient returning from the operation theatre?

A. Closed bed B. Post-operative bed C. Fracture bed D. Occupied bed

Answer: B. A post-operative bed has the top linen fanfolded to one side so the patient can be moved across easily.

Why should linen not be shaken during bed making?

A. It wrinkles the sheet B. It spreads organisms and dust in the air C. It wastes time D. It damages the linen

Answer: B. Shaking linen releases organisms and dust into the air, which can spread infection.

For more procedures, see patient positions in nursing and hand hygiene in nursing.

FAQs

What are the types of bed making?

Closed bed, open bed, occupied bed and post-operative bed, plus special beds such as the cardiac, fracture, amputation and burn bed.

What is the difference between an open and a closed bed?

A closed bed is made for an empty bed waiting for a new admission, with the top sheets covering the pillow. An open bed has the top sheets folded back, ready for a patient to get in.

What is an occupied bed?

A bed made while the patient stays in it, for patients who cannot get out of bed. The patient is turned from side to side while the linen is changed.

What is a mitred corner in bed making?

A triangular fold at the corner of a sheet that holds it firmly under the mattress and keeps the bottom sheet tight.

Why is a draw sheet used?

A draw sheet, with a mackintosh under it, protects the bottom sheet and mattress from soiling, and can be changed without changing the whole bed. It can also help turn or move the patient.

Why should linen not be shaken?

Shaking linen spreads organisms and dust into the air, which can spread infection.

What to read next

• Up: Fundamentals of Nursing for NORCET
• Across: patient positions in nursing and nursing care plan
• Practice: free NORCET mock test