skills exam-bed making

[steenerz]

Just a simple question about making an occupied bed for the skills exam...where should I place the "soiled" linens while I'm still making the bed? I know dfinitely not on the floor....but on the bedside table or foot of bed seem unsanitary as well....

I failed my skills exam a few weeks ago on placing the elastic stocking on the foot...i'm pretty sure it's because I placed it while the patient was sitting, and not laying down...but could they really fail me because of that, since it's not a bolded statement? (or written ANYWHERE in the handbook??) Grr.

Edit: Another question, this time about giving peri-care. After washing the perineal area with the washcloth, is it necessary on the exam to use a brand new washcloth to rinse? (I would think/hope so...ew.) If so, where do I place the washcloth I used to wash the area with while I'm rinsing? Sorry, these questions seem so specific, but sometimes, I feel like the handbook isn't specific enough...

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Bring along the linen cart or as someone suggested drape a bag over a chair and throw the linens into it. As for the "real life" comment, it actually takes more time and steps to throw the linens onto the floor, then have to pick them up again to put them into a bag, than it does to just put them in a bag to start with, so I guess I just don't get the whole point of the comment about it being far removed from real life. Why make things harder on yourself?

We were told in class that it is crucial to put them on while the patient is still laying down, before they get up and move around. If they have sat up or gotten up, the blood/fluid starts to pool in the legs/foot, and putting the TED hose on after that just causes the fluid to stay in the leg/foot. Does that make sense? Sounds to me that your instructor didn't cover that topic very well. There was often a lot of stuff that wasn't "printed" in the book, that our instructor went over with us, telling us that it was something we needed to do...whether it was printed or not.

We were taught to put 5-6 washcloths directly into the basin to remind yourself not to put the dirty washcloth back into it. You pull a washcloth out, then do a couple swipes, then just drop it directly down onto the the bed in between their legs (which should have a towel or mat on it) and then go for a new washcloth. Just keep piling the washcloths on the bed until you are done. Such as this...wipe, turn, wipe, turn, wipe, DROP...wipe, turn, wipe, turn, wipe, DROP...etc...until you are finished. Does that make sense? You never want to reuse a washcloth, or even rinse a dirty washcloth in the clean water b/c you make the clean water dirty.

Good post.

I completely agree that it is harder (on your back) to throw the linen on the floor and then pick it up. Putting it in the linen cart or a bag is so much easier.

And you are correct about TED hose . .. . placing them while the pt has his feet up is the correct way to do it due to edema in a dependent position.

And it is real life too.

steph

[nightmare, RN]

We use dissolvable red bags for soiled linen,take the bag in,bag and tie and put in soiled linen cart. Washclothes for peri area,no way!! We use disposable wipes for those areas which are disposed of into white bags then put in clinical waste containers.