An older adult in a medical-surgical unit needs a complete bed bath and an occupied linen change after night sweats, has an IV in the forearm, and becomes chilled easily. The bed is against the wall with one side rail available and the call light in reach. Which occupied-bed bathing and linen technique should the technician use to maintain warmth, safety, and line integrity?

Exposing and washing one body area at a time while rolling soiled linen toward the middle on one side is appropriate because night sweats call for a complete bath and skin assessment, while keeping other areas covered helps an older adult who chills easily maintain warmth and dignity. Rolling the linen toward the center allows an occupied change from the accessible side of a bed against the wall; keep the forearm IV visible and protected from traction, and maintain safety with the available rail and call light. Washing only the face, hands, axillae and perineum under cover is suitable for limited or routine freshening, but does not provide the complete bath needed after night sweats. Exposing the trunk and both legs together may seem efficient, but removing that much cover increases evaporative heat loss and the risk of shivering. Fanfolding soiled and clean linen through from opposite sides assumes access to both sides of the bed, which the wall placement does not allow. Exam caveat: match bath completeness and linen direction to the cues about sweating, chilling and bed position rather than choosing a technique that fits a different setup. Practical check: use warm water, keep unexposed areas under a fresh dry cover, secure the IV with slack and keep its site dry, raise the working-side rail while turning, keep the call light within reach, and dry the skin fully before pulling clean linen taut.