What it means
Describes a client who stays in bed because of illness, weakness, injury or orders. Being bedbound raises the risk of pressure injuries, blood clots, pneumonia, constipation, muscle loss, joint contractures and low mood.
For the nurse
Turn and reposition at least every 2 hours, check the skin, do range-of-motion exercises, encourage deep breathing and fluids, and keep the call light within reach.
At a glance
| Everyday words | stuck in bed |
|---|---|
| Also written | bed-bound, bedridden |
Related terms
deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.
range of motion
How far a joint can move in each of its normal directions, and the exercises that move joints through it.
pressure injury
Damage to the skin and the tissue beneath it from pressure, or pressure with shear, usually over a bony area or under a device.