Michigan Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) Practice Exam

How many times a week should linens for bedfast patients be changed?

1. Once

2. Twice

3. Three times

4. Daily

The correct answer is: Twice

Linens for bedfast patients should ideally be changed twice a week to maintain hygiene and comfort. Regular changes help prevent skin irritations, pressure sores, and infections that can occur due to the accumulation of sweat, body oils, and other contaminants on the linens. Changing linens on this schedule strikes a balance between maintaining cleanliness while also considering the workload of nursing staff and the demand on laundry services. While daily changes might seem more thorough, they may not be practical or necessary for all bedfast patients, particularly if the linens appear clean and the patient is not experiencing any issues. Similarly, changing linens only once a week could risk compromising the hygiene and comfort of the patient, increasing the likelihood of adverse health outcomes. Thus, the practice of changing linens twice a week is generally recommended in many healthcare settings, including nursing homes, to keep the patients comfortable and reduce the risk of complications associated with poor linen hygiene.