Beds

[nursingcares, RN]

Do the beds in your facility go up and down? Ours only raise the head or the feel (with a crank type thing at the foot of the bed). My back kills me from trying to lean over doing dressing changes or whatever else! Just wondering if many places have beds like this..

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

We used to have the type of beds that you describe in our old hospital, which closed two years ago. The company built a new facility and equipped it with the electric beds that have the full range of functions - when they work. There are manually operated beds that can be raised and lowered using a foot pedal, which admittedly were much better quality from a manufacturing point of view. I think the head and foot are cranked up using a handle, which can play havoc with the shoulders and back.

[PediLove2147, BSN, RN]

The facility I worked at as a nursing assistant had beds that went up and down. You could also move the head and feet individually. I could not imagine having to do everything with the bed down. Sometimes I would change a patient quickly and I would feel it in my back afterwards. Tell your facility to invest in some new beds!

[mskate]

Heads and feet go up and down. The height goes up and down. The bed folds up into a chair position, t-burg and reverse t-burg. It also lengthens and shortens, assists with turning and the mattress firms and softens. -- All push button.

[loriangel14, RN]

Ours have hand held remote controls plus buttons on a panel at the end.Head and foot goes up and down, bed goes up and down and they have an alarm that sounds if the brakes are off and most of ours have bed alarms you can set if the patient gets up. We have some that turn side to side and some that lengthen.My favorite bed( but only about half of ours are like this) are the ones that lower ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.If we have a patient that is a falls risk we can put them in one of these so if they end up on the floor it's only a trip of about 8 inches and not technically classified as a fall.I work in a hospital in Canada.

[MurrR]

Where I work in a group home, I squat next to the beds. I look ridiculous, almost like I'm going in the woods, but it sure beats the heck out of bending over and screwing with my back. If our beds went up and down, I'd be thrilled.

[Flo., BSN, RN]

What country are you in? We have electronic beds that do all sorts of things, even weighs the pts.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Cranks are way out of style and lots of nurses complained of back pain so the hospitals quit using them in my area MANY years ago. All electronic now. Some have special capabilities for non-ambulatory, or bariatic, etc.

[nursingcares, RN]

Yeah I thought these were a little old and outdated! I'd like to gather some research to present to my supervisor. Just to bring the topic up. I'm sure it's been brought up before but I really can't stand it any longer! I may have to start squatting as well haha.

I'm in America...New Mexico to be precise =). We are under new ownership and they are planning to remodel the facility but I think new beds would be a much better start! I bet it is expensive though especially since our facility has 369 beds.

[PeacenJoy]

Heads and feet go up and down. The height goes up and down. The bed folds up into a chair position, t-burg and reverse t-burg. It also lengthens and shortens, assists with turning and the mattress firms and softens. -- All push button.

Dang, if the bed also gives shots and change briefs, you're all set.

[debRN0417]

Most places are going to electric beds. There's just too many workers comp claims because of back problems due to malfunctioning beds or beds that will not raise to a safe work height. I think I am paying now for the constant abuse I put my back through all those years with crank beds that did not always work.

[prinsessa]

Most of the beds at my facility are crank style. Horrible on the back since they don't raise up and down. Only the residents who at a high fall risk get electric beds. It is kind of funny when we have to send someone to ER and the EMTs ask how to raise the bed. I show them the cranks and they just give me this funny look. I always ask them if they feel like they stepped back in time LOL